Thomas R. Collins

Tom was the son of Calvin H. Collins and Sarah Ola Collins. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 49 years, Johnnie Ann Seagle Collins (75). He is survived by his daughter Janet D. Hamilton (husband Greg Hamilton) with granddaughter Genevieve Duerr, his son Charles “Chris” Collins (wife Cynthia Collins) with grandson Caleb Collins and granddaughter Calissa Collins, and his youngest son Andrew B. Collins. Tom is the brother of William H. Collins (deceased), sister Polly Morrison (deceased), last surviving brother Franklin Collins, sister Jo Russell, (deceased) and sister Mary Blount (deceased).

Tom graduated from West Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte, NC in 1955. He enlisted in the US Navy and spent four years of service near Ventura, California. He was honorably discharged in 1959. He went on to earn a Associates degree in Ventura College.

Tom was introduced to his future wife, Johnnie Ann Seagle, during a YWCA social in Charlotte, NC. In 1963 they were married and remained married for 49 years. Their first child, Jann was born in 1964, second child, Chris in 1966 and third child, Andy in 1972.

Tom was known for his many enterprising endeavors. From a young age he collected rare stamps and coins. To pay for college he delivered morning papers in Ventura, Ca. He began his career spanning 25 years with NCR in 1966. He was trained first in Hartford, Connecticut then Denver, Colorado where his young family spent nearly two years. Tom retired with a comradery of NCR employees that all worked over 25 year together, beginning in Colorado in the mid 1960’s. During his career he always had side projects buying land and renovating rental homes. He was very industrious and over the years he renovated over 30 homes, mostly by himself. He was a jack of all trades and getting the job done had a saying “close enough for government work”. He was focused and driven, earning satisfaction from his labor.

Tom was baptized at Mulberry Baptist Church in Charlotte and attended with his family during the 1980’s. Beginning in 1991 he began building a home on Lake Norman and moved with his wife and teenage son, Andy to Mooresville, NC. He retired and found lasting relationships there becoming a regular member of Peninsula Baptist Church, attending with his wife Johnnie until her death in 2012.

He was well known for his warm welcomes, ambitious projects and long lasting relationships. He was generous and a loving husband and father. He was good hearted and liked to pick always, enjoying a good laugh. He was not a man of lofty words but a man of action and resolve, never mixing his words. He will be very much missed.

Visitation 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Thursday December 10, 2020 at Forest Lawn West Funeral & Cemetery, 4601 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208. Funeral Service 1 p.m. at Mulberry Baptist Church

6450 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214. Burial in Forest Lawn West Cemetery.

(Directions from Forest Lawn West Funeral Home: turn LEFT on Freedom Dr, ½ mile to the first light at Toddville Rd. Turn LEFT on Toddville Rd., proceed for 1.5 miles to Tuckaseegee Rd. Turn RIGHT on Tuckaseegee Rd, about ¼ mile Mulberry Baptist Church will be the first church on the RIGHT)