Donald Eugene Collins, 96, of Tyler, Texas, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Don was born June 24, 1922, in Miami, Florida, to Clyde and Mable Collins. He graduated from Miami Edison High School in 1940, after which he attended the University of Florida, and played Gator football as a lineman. Don was a Gator thru and thru, but WWII interrupted his college experience. Don joined the Marine Corps in December 1942. He went to Camp Pendleton, CA for training and joined Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Marine Division in 1943 in Melbourne, Australia. Don was awarded two Purple Hearts; the Bronze Star, four (4) Presidential Unit Citations, the WWII Victory Medal, and an Asiatic Campaign Medal with four (4) battle stars for action against the enemy at Goodenough Island, New Guinea, the Battle of Cape Gloucester, the Battle of Peleliu, and the Battle of Okinawa.

After the war ended, Don met Marie Martin at a church beach party and they were married June 26, 1946. He went back to the University of Florida and received his degree in Accounting. Don was a senior auditor for many years. He then became a general building contractor, developing growing areas of Brevard County, Florida, during the 1960’s. Don felt a calling to work in Christian ministry, and received his Master’s Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He became a ‘builder of churches’ as Minister of Education & Church Administration in Southern Baptist churches in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. Don retired from full-time work in 1984 so that he and Marie could travel the states in their Air Stream trailer. By 1986, they had settled back to Largo, FL, where together they spent their retirement years enjoying many friends and family. After the passing of Marie in 2013, Don went to live in Tyler, Texas with his son’s family.

Don is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Don & Desiree Collins of Tyler, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Melanie & Frank Hopkins of Orlando, Florida; five grandchildren and their spouses, Cameron (Beth), Nathan (Christy), Bill, Eric (Stephanie), Ryan (Bekah); seven great-grandchildren, Elisa, Ava, Noah, Micah, Kara, Dakota, Anika…with the eighth on the way; one sister-in-law, Marilyn Martin Olmstead; and 17 nieces and nephews and their families.

Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 31, 2019 at Suncoast Community Church, 8000 Hawkins Road, Sarasota, FL 34241 at 12:00 pm. Interment will follow at 1:30 pm at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 SR 72, Sarasota, FL 34241.

Should friends desire, donations may be made to: Texas Veterans State Home 11466 Honor Lane, Tyler, Texas 75708 in his memory. Please indicate that your check is for donations.