Jerome "Jerry" Raymond Collins

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Margarite Collins; brothers, Mark Collins, Tom Collins, and Mike Collins; and step-son, David Hurley.

Born and raised in Ohio, Jerry attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron and graduated with the class of 1956. From there, he went on to enroll at Akron University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.

Following his college graduation, Jerry took a job working as a Quality Control Engineer at General Tire, now known as Continental Tire. In 1967, General Tire opened a new branch in Charlotte, and thus Jerry moved to North Carolina to help open and run the new location.

It was there, at his new job in North Carolina, that Jerry met his future wife, Judy Simons. Jerry and Judy were married on September 7, 1974 at Tuckaseegee Baptist Church in Charlotte.

Jerry went on to enjoy a successful 40 year career with General Tire and eventually retired in the early 2000s.

A deep thinker, Jerry enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and was an avid reader of history, and especially that of World War II. He was quiet and friendly, and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Those left to remember Jerry include his wife of 48 years, Judy Collins; daughter, Beth Collins Poptonik and husband, Frank; son, Chris Collins and wife, Stephanie; brother, Bill Collins and wife, Nancy; sister, Mary Stevens and husband, Dave; sister-in-law, Barbara Collins; as well as five treasured grandchildren and many other loving family members and friends.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 12:00pm until 1:00pm on Friday, October 7, 2022 at Forest Lawn West Funeral Home, 4601 Freedom Drive in Charlotte. The funeral service is to be conducted at 1:00pm, immediately following the visitation, in the Paul Helton Chapel at the funeral home. The interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jerry’s name to the American Cancer Society.