Joseph Seebert Collins

Joseph “Joe” S. Collins, 85 of Keswick, VA passed away on December 29, 2020. Originally from Rockbridge VA, Joe spent most of his life in Keswick. He was preceded in death by parents Emma and Woodrow Collins, wife of 59 years, Shirley Collins, daughter Carolyn Scott and siblings, Mary Collins, Lucy Cash and Roy Collins.

Joe is survived by son Joseph C. Collins and partner Cherie Murray, daughter Crystal Piercy and her husband Will, granddaughter Jessica Waters and her husband Johnny, great-grandchildren Alex and Ariel Waters, stepgrandson Liam Piercy, sisters Gladys Sanner and Mary Ertel.

The most exciting moments of his life happened (usually on horseback) while working for the Keswick Hunt Club as Huntsman and Kennel Huntsman, 1963-1985. A keen fox-hunter since childhood, he learned about hounds and horses early on from previous Keswick huntsmen Richard Hall and Andrew Branham. Joe's best hunting horse was Royal Chaos, a tall chestnut thoroughbred ex-timber racer. Two of his best hunting hounds were Nana and Keswick. Joe called his hounds with a cow horn and cheered them on with a voice that could shake the mountain. Joe enthusiastically encouraged dozens of junior fox-hunters to enjoy and perpetuate the sport. His stories and memories of his best hunts live on, including in the book The 100-Year History of the Keswick Hunt Club by historian Barclay Rives.

Early in life, he served 6 years in the National Guard. He was also a founding member of the East Rivanna Fire Company, earning Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, 1974. He danced at the Keswick Moose Lodge regularly. Joe retired from Luck Stone Quarry as a heavy machine operator in 1999.

Even with all of that excitement, Joe was most proud of his family. He married his childhood sweetheart, Shirley. He was by her side until her passing in 2014, just shy of their 60th anniversary. He would tell anyone who asked that he married up, because to him, she was the sunshine. Together they raised three children whom they adored, Joseph “Calvin”, Carolyn and Crystal. He instilled a love of fixing things in Calvin, who became a mechanic. His love of animals he passed on to Carolyn. His love of people he passed onto Crystal, who was always his sidekick.

Joe was a family man, never living more than a mile from one relative or another. Family gardens were a yearly event and he always made sure to share the bounty with his neighbors. He never met a stranger and could make a friend for life in the grocery check out. He would help anyone in need and always had a toolbox, a handkerchief and a smile handy.

The world was a brighter place with Joe in it.

Special thanks go out to Bernice Gibson and Tami Black who helped in his care while he was at home. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hospice of the Piedmont.