Larry R. Collins

Born to Guy Clay and Charlotte Crank Collins on January 24, 1946 in Huntington, West Virginia, Larry attended Huntington High School and Marshall University. He married his high school sweetheart, Penelope Brooke, in May 1968. Soon after, Uncle Sam called and he entered the Air Force and was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He served as a crew chief on many aircraft, including the T-39, and logged more than 5,000 hours flying time helping pilots from the Pentagon to keep their flying status current. He flew with notables like Sen. Barry Goldwater and Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., the first Four-Star African-American Air Force General.

After the Air Force, he and Penny moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where he went to work for FPL. After completing an apprenticeship program, Larry became a cable splicer and later cross-trained as a substation electrician. After finishing his degree in Business Management at Barry University in Miami, he became an Environmental Manager with FPL until he retired at 52.

Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Penelope, of 52 years as well as his son, Matthew, and daughter-in-law, Lisa; his daughter, Marnie; and his granddaughter, Phoebe Charlotte. Known as Pap Paw to Phoebe, they were two peas in a pod because they were so much alike. He encouraged her artistic talents and loved nothing better than to travel and explore with her during school vacations. She was the apple of his eye.

Larry loved the Lord and served Him in worship at Calvary Church Jupiter. He also loved helping people and would donate his time and resources to those in need, especially widows and the elderly. He was also a member of Jupiter Light Lodge F & AM and Scottish Rite.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Mark Gocke for his compassionate care of Larry and guidance, night and day, during this last season of Larry’s life. A special thanks to his nurses at TrustBridge Hospice Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Sandy and Roz, for their expert care given to Larry. They were angels in disguise.

Memorial donations may be made in Larry’s memory to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607 or TrustBridge Hospice, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 16, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Church, 10180 West Indiantown Road, Jupiter, Florida. The ceremony can also be viewed on a livestream here: www.calvarychurchfl.com/memorial.