Bobby Lee Collins

Bob Collins

Bob Collins, 82, of Unionville, MO, passed away at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital on Saturday, April 4, 2015.

Bobby Lee Collins was born in Unionville, MO, on February 15, 1933, the son of Ogle Burt and Ruby Francis (Minear) Collins who preceded him in death. He was reared as a youngster in the Lone Star area of Putnam County until he was a teenager and the family moved to the family farm around Central City in western Putnam County. Bob attended Lucerne High School until it closed in 1950 and then graduated from Newtown-Harris High School in 1951. He began working in road construction with the Missouri Department of Transportation in August after his High School graduation.

Bob married Claudine Pauley in Lucerne, MO, on August 31, 1952, and she passed away on April 14, 2005. He served in the US Army from 1953-1954. Bob and Claudine spent their married life in Unionville and Macon, MO, as Bob was transferred with MoDot. He retired in 1991 as assistant to the chief construction engineer in District 2, after a 40 year career. Bob and Claudine lived in Macon from 1968 until her death in 2005, when Bob moved to Unionville, MO. Bob and Claudine enjoyed many winters in Mission, TX.

Bob opened C & H Small Engines with Herb Hyatt in Macon in 1972 and owned and operated that business until selling out in 1982. Soon after that he owned and operated Macon Motor Sales, operating that business until 2001.

Bob accepted Christ as his Savior as a young adult. He was active in church life and service for the Lord all his life. He was a gifted Sunday School teacher and speaker at Lay Renewal Weekends. He was one of the founding members of Broadlawn Baptist Church in Unionville and was ordained a deacon there in 1968. He served many years as chairman of the deacons at First Baptist Church in Macon. Mission work was also important to Bob and Claudine. They were members of Campers on Mission and also took mission trips to Wyoming, Colorado, and south Texas where he was instrumental in helping build church buildings and homes for the disadvantaged. Bob was a founding member of the MoDot District 2 Credit Union and also served on the Loch Haven Nursing Home Board of Directors in Macon for a number of years. He was a 50 year Mason and a member of Omaha Baptist Church near Unionville, MO.

Bob is survived by two sons, Kevin Collins and his wife Brenda of Powersville, MO, and Scott Collins and his wife Judy of Forney, TX. He is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Cindy McBeth Collins of Bloomsburg, PA. His surviving grandchildren are Quinn Collins of Princeton, NJ, Jacob Collins and wife Courtney of Ashland, MO, Caitlin Collins of Philadelphia, PA, and Claire Collins of Lubbock, TX. He is also survived by two great grandchildren, Jaymie and Harlee Collins, as well as a sister, Cheryl Overlin and her husband Curt of Colfax, IA.

In addition to his wife, Bob was preceded in death by his oldest son, Michael Collins who passed away July 17, 2009.

Funeral services for Bob Collins were at Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 with visitation on Tuesday, April 7. Interment was at the Lucerne Cemetery, Lucerne, MO.

Memorials for Bob are suggested to the Omaha Baptist Church Building fund and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.