Charles Collins

Charles (Pete) Gordon Collins, 80, of Woodbury died Sunday, June 2, 2013. After a courageous battle with lung and heart disease, Pop passed away peacefully at his home in Woodbury. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Rev. Stanley Lohse officiating. Burial will follow at New Woodbury Cemetery near Woodbury. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at the funeral home.

Pop was born March 9, 1933 in Fort Worth, one of four children born to the late Mattie Dugan Smith. He was raised near the Trinity River, where as a child he spent most of his time swimming. For 35 years he worked for the City of Fort Worth in the Parks and Recreation Department as a supervisor. He retired from the City of Fort Worth as the maintenance foreman at the Botanical Gardens and the City Nursery.

On November 6, 1951, he married Loretta Ferry in Fort Worth. In 1980, the couple moved to Woodbury to start a new chapter in their life. After moving there, Pop became a member of the Woodbury Baptist Church, where he lead the singing for 15 years, Woodbury Grand Ole Opry, and Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a member of the DL Williams band, Peoria Country and Bluegrass band, Hillsboro Masonic Lodge, and lastly a Master of Supervision. The things that Pop loved most in life were listening to and playing country and bluegrass music, being with his family, having fun with friends, and working with his cows on the farm. He touched the lives of many people with his smile, love, and generosity and maintained his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end.

Pop was also preceded in death by his son, Jimmy Charles Collins in 1984; and siblings, Horace Collins, Betty Nowell, and Blanch Gosney.

Pop will forever be remembered by his beloved wife of over 61 years, Loretta Collins; beloved children, Linda Kay and Bill Heffner; treasured grandchildren, Kimberly Collins Stieber, Jeremy Heffner and wife, Karly, and Chase Heffner and wife, Holly; beautiful great-granddaughter, Alona McCormick-Heffner; along with countless other friends and family who were blessed to have known him.

Memorials may be made to the Woodbury Baptist Church, 2451 FM 309, Hillsboro, TX 76645 or Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department, 1523 HCR 1313, Hillsboro, TX 76645.