Robert (Bob) Emmett Collins of Toms River, New Jersey, husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, passed away at his home at Harrogate, on Friday, January 8, 2021. Bob was born in Roslindale, Massachusetts on November 22, 1932, to Martin and Catherine Collins, Irish immigrants. Bob and his wife, and their daughters moved to Toms River in 1970.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Margueritte (nee Laing) and his sisters Kathleen and Mary, and his brother, Gerald.
Bob is survived by his daughters, Kathleen Mary Collins and her husband Mark Harper, Colleen Elizabeth Cox and her husband David; and Lori Thompson, who he also considered his daughter, and her husband Bill; grandchildren, Aidan Harper; Courtney Cox and her husband, Jarred Lucas; Christopher Cox; Tiffany O’Connor, Justin Elliot; great-grandchildren, Arianna, Riley, Mylah and Paxtyn.
Bob retired from the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1976 after serving for nearly 30 years as a naval aviator and in various aviation support roles. He continued his professional career as logistics specialist at M & T Company, Lakehurst, N.J. until his 87th birthday. Bob was an active member of the Toms River Yacht Club and a previous member of the Toms River Country Club. Bob also met regularly with his breakfast club, “The Romeos.”
A viewing will be held at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River, NJ on Friday, January 22, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to FULFILL (formerly Monmouth-Ocean Food Bank), 33 Highway 66, Neptune, NJ 07753, or, Boston College High School, 150 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125
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