Richard Collins

Collins, Richard F. -- age 91, of Fenton, MI, passed away on November 30, 2022 at the Symphony Assisted Living Center in Linden, where he had been a resident for several months.   Richard is survived by his wife, Virginia (nee Herberholtz); they were married in 1966.  Beside Virginia, Richard is survived by his brother, Patrick, his wife Leslie, and nephew, Sean Collins of North Grafton, Massachusetts along with three nephews, and numerous grand nephews and nieces. Also, by Virginia’s nephew, Daniel Sielski and his wife, Yvonne of Belleville, along with many of Virginia’s nieces, nephews, and cousins. Richard was pre-deceased by his sister, Maureen Williams in 2017.

Richard was born on November 5, 1931, in Amsterdam, New York, the first child of Richard and Theresa Collins (nee Greene).  He attended St. Mary’s Institute graduating in 1949.  In 1951, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge 1955, Richard matriculated at Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Relations.  At Lemoyne, he was a relief pitcher on their Division I baseball team.

In 1961, he moved to Detroit and was the Athletic Director and counselor at an urban center serving dis-advantaged, inner-city youth.  In 1964, Richard was hired by the Ford Motor Company as an entry-level management trainee at their Assembly Plant in Wixom, Michigan.  Over the years he rose through Wixom’s management ranks, retiring in 1989 as the manager of the Plant’s pre-delivery division.

Richard enjoyed hunting, fishing, and continuously improving his home’s lakeside property.  Shortly after his retirement, Richard and Virginia bought a small travel van to experiment with cross county traveling and sight-seeing.  They immediately became “hooked” on this hobby.  Over the next 15 years, they made at least one annual, extended cross-country trip to include a 1993 summer trip to Alaska.  During those years they continually traded-up in traveling vehicles culminating with a “Class A” motorhome in 1998.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 AM Wednesday, December 7 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 600 . Adelaide St., Fenton, Fr. David Harvey celebrant. Visitation will be from 10:30 AM until the time of the Mass on Wednesday. In lieu flowers, the family requests donations be made for research to the Dementia Society of America at their website www. dementiasociety.org. Arrangements are being handled by Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.