Mr. Robert Earl (Bobby) Collins, age 80, of Florence, Alabama, formerly of Shannon, Mississippi, passed away with his family by his side at his residence Wednesday, December 27, 2023. Visitation will be held Saturday, December 30, 2023, beginning at 11 a.m. with services following at noon in Greenview Memorial Chapel. Officiating will be Chaplin Chance Hall. Burial will follow in Greenview Memorial Park.
Bobby was born February 18, 1943, in Shannon, Mississippi, to the late Mary Lula Culpepper and the late Robert Lawrence Collins. He attended Shannon High School, Shannon Mississippi. After graduating he served in the United States Air Force. He worked as a Sewing Machine Mechanic in Tupelo, Mississippi, Selma, Alabama, Cottonwood, Arizona and Henderson, Tennessee where he met his late wife Carrie Neal Butler Collins. They moved to Wynne, Arkansas for a short period before settling in Florence, Alabama in 1973 where he was Head Mechanic at Reltoc Manufacturing. After leaving Reltoc he worked for Cutters Exchange before retiring from TNT in Florence, Alabama. Bobby was full of life and energy, a personality that was to the point, and he never met a stranger. After retirement he could be found at local coffee shops or working in the garden. He received the most joy spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was a member of the American Legion, Elks Lodge No 820, and Underwood Baptist Church.
Bobby was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lawrence Collins, mother, Mary Lula Culpepper, his wife, Carrie Neal Butler Collins, sons, Robert Lynn Collins and Bobby Dean Collins, siblings, Larry Collins, Martha Crawford, and Jimmy Collins.
Survivors include his son, Guy Collins (Elly), Florence, Alabama; daughters, Allison Lewis Sabat (Pete), Lake Mary, Florida, Angela Moody (Jeff), Hartselle, Alabama; Sister, Joyce Harper, Tupelo, Mississippi, brother, Charlie Collins, Shannon, Mississippi; grandchildren, DJ Holden, Adam and Anna Moody, Joel and Noah Collins; great granddaughter, Adri Holden and several other relatives and friends.
We would especially like to thank his caring neighbors, friends and Preferred Hospice for their love, kindness, and care during these difficult times. He will also be missed by his precious Kitty who never left his side.
Pallbearers will be DJ Holden, Adam Moody, Jeff Moody, Pete Sabat, Terry Lewis, Loren Tays.
