Frank Gibson Collins, age 86 of Tullahoma, passed away on Monday, September 2, 2024, at Life Care Center of Tullahoma with family by his side. Frank was defined by his devotion to his wife, Ruth, and by his lifelong passion for teaching and learning. Frank was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 20, 1938, to the late Forrest Gibson and Elizabeth Longley (Freeman) Collins. Boy Scouting greatly influenced Frank’s outlook on life and helped direct his life’s path. He joined Boy Scout Troop 512 in 1949, at the age of eleven, and eventually earned the Eagle Award and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. He went on to serve in many Scout leadership roles including during summers at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, NM. The two most reminiscent Scouting experiences that Frank frequently spoke about were being chosen to accompany the U505 submarine on its trip through the St. Lawrence Seaway to Chicago in 1954, as well as being named one of twelve Scouts to present the “Report to the Nation” before Congress in Washington D.C. in 1956. After graduating from Hyde Park High School, Frank earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University. Engineering proved to be another of Frank’s callings in life. At the end of his undergraduate studies, he won a prestigious pre-doctoral fellowship grant from the National Science Foundation and decided to attend graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, where he went on to earn a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering with minors in physics and mathematics. Prior to moving to California, on June 13, 1960, Frank married his high school sweetheart, Sarah Ruth Knight. Their two children were born during their years at UCal, Berkeley. Upon graduation, the family moved to Texas, where he was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Engineering at the University of Texas, Austin. While at UT Austin, Frank earned an NSF Research Initiation Grant. The family then moved to Tullahoma, TN, where Frank took a faculty position at the University of Tennessee Space Institute, later becoming a tenured Full Professor. He also spent many summers doing research at Arnold Engineering Development Center (Tullahoma), and at NASA, Marshall (Huntsville, AL). He remained on the faculty of UTSI for over 30 years, and then retired as Emeritus Professor of Aerospace Engineering. Throughout his adult life, Frank was engaged in community affairs and sought out opportunities to help others in need. He continued his involvement with Scouting, along with his son, in the Elk River District of Middle Tennessee. He was also active in the Kiwanis Club (which sponsored a Scout troop) and was elected to serve a term as club President. He was an active member of First Christian Church in Tullahoma, where he served as an Elder and as Chair of the board, and for some time, did in-house visitations for those unable to attend church in person. As recently as last year, he very much enjoyed serving as a reading buddy for kindergarten students at Jack T. Farrar Elementary School in Tullahoma. In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Collins, and his sister, Sally Collins (Ludington, MI). Frank is survived by his loving children, Jamie (Renee) Collins (Gainesville, FL) and Pam (Stan) Williams (Tullahoma); grandchildren, Victoria (Boston) and Forrest (Chapel Hill, NC) Collins; Sarah (Andrew) Henderson (Tullahoma); and Emily (Clay) Turner (Harvest, AL); great-grandchildren, Barrett, Michael and Alice Henderson (Tullahoma); brothers Bill (Alice) Collins (Queenstown, MD) and Bob (Linda) Collins (Hesperia, MI); and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to sincerely thank the administration and staff at Life Care Center and Brookdale Assisted Living facility, and Betsy Smith and friends, for the excellent, compassionate care they provided to Frank and Ruth. Frank’s impactful life will be celebrated in a Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at First Christian Church, Tullahoma (120 W Grundy St), with pastor Tom Murdock officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at noon in the church gathering space. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home 300 1st Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)967-2222
