Obituary for John Edward Collins
John Edward Collins was born June 21, 1941 in Effingham, Illinois to Berl Edward (Ed) and Jean (Powell) Collins. The family moved West for a dryer climate due to John’s asthma when he was five years old. Ed’s employment in the oil fields required several moves. As a result, John lived in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. This fostered his love for the Mountain West. In 1959, John joined the U.S. Army National Guard, then returned to Powell, Wyoming where he graduated in 1960.
John’s life-long interest in the military, especially flying, along with a desire to see the world, led him to four years of service in the U.S. Navy. John’s arrival in San Diego would determine the course for the rest of his life. His love of San Diego coupled with the opportunity to work on the flight line at North Island Naval Air Station, allowed him to meet and marry Virginia Credille in 1965. To this union were born four children: John Jr., David, Becky and Mary. It was also at North Island that John met Milton Elms. John had been seeking to know about Jesus, and Milton (Pop) Elms showed John Bible truths that forever changed his life. He and Virginia were baptized in Jesus’ Name and received the gift of the Holy Ghost in 1968, under Pastor David F. Gray, at Revival Tabernacle, in San Diego. Since that day, John was always eager to talk to people about Jesus, and was instrumental in many people receiving the same experience of salvation.
In 1977, John, along with two other friends, made up the first graduating class of the Christian Service Training Institute (CSTI), a ministry of Revival Tabernacle. During these years, John served in many capacities including: Sunday school, running a bus route to bring children to Church, Head Usher and as a Deacon. He also enjoyed teaching Home Bible Studies.
John’s desire to work for the Lord played a part in a move back to Wyoming in 1977, to help in a Home Missions Church. In 1985, John was called back to San Diego to resume his Civil Service career on the flight line at North Island. Following an injury, he was retrained in accounting and finished his career as an accountant for a U.S. Navy Carrier group with the Pacific Fleet. He served a total of 40 years and 7 months in the Civil Service, retiring in 2008. Those who knew John knew there were shadows in his life. He did not deny this reality and never gave up, even when going forward seemed pointless.
In 2003, John married Sarah Fetkenhour. Sarah gave John a new start for the latter part of his life. They shared many wonderful years, and Sarah’s family welcomed John into their family as their dad/grandpa. We are grateful for the family’s care for dad. A highlight of John and Sarah’s years together was serving as greeters at the Anchor Church.
John was predeceased by his parents, Ed and Jean; a brother, Richard Collins; and two children, David and Becky. He is survived by his wife, Sarah; a brother, Larry Collins; two children, John Jr. (Andrea) and Mary Kerlin, two step-daughters; Shari (Mark) San Agustin and Yvette (Frank) Arce, 21 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
John’s life-long interest in the military, especially flying, along with a desire to see the world, led him to four years of service in the U.S. Navy. John’s arrival in San Diego would determine the course for the rest of his life. His love of San Diego coupled with the opportunity to work on the flight line at North Island Naval Air Station, allowed him to meet and marry Virginia Credille in 1965. To this union were born four children: John Jr., David, Becky and Mary. It was also at North Island that John met Milton Elms. John had been seeking to know about Jesus, and Milton (Pop) Elms showed John Bible truths that forever changed his life. He and Virginia were baptized in Jesus’ Name and received the gift of the Holy Ghost in 1968, under Pastor David F. Gray, at Revival Tabernacle, in San Diego. Since that day, John was always eager to talk to people about Jesus, and was instrumental in many people receiving the same experience of salvation.
In 1977, John, along with two other friends, made up the first graduating class of the Christian Service Training Institute (CSTI), a ministry of Revival Tabernacle. During these years, John served in many capacities including: Sunday school, running a bus route to bring children to Church, Head Usher and as a Deacon. He also enjoyed teaching Home Bible Studies.
John’s desire to work for the Lord played a part in a move back to Wyoming in 1977, to help in a Home Missions Church. In 1985, John was called back to San Diego to resume his Civil Service career on the flight line at North Island. Following an injury, he was retrained in accounting and finished his career as an accountant for a U.S. Navy Carrier group with the Pacific Fleet. He served a total of 40 years and 7 months in the Civil Service, retiring in 2008. Those who knew John knew there were shadows in his life. He did not deny this reality and never gave up, even when going forward seemed pointless.
In 2003, John married Sarah Fetkenhour. Sarah gave John a new start for the latter part of his life. They shared many wonderful years, and Sarah’s family welcomed John into their family as their dad/grandpa. We are grateful for the family’s care for dad. A highlight of John and Sarah’s years together was serving as greeters at the Anchor Church.
John was predeceased by his parents, Ed and Jean; a brother, Richard Collins; and two children, David and Becky. He is survived by his wife, Sarah; a brother, Larry Collins; two children, John Jr. (Andrea) and Mary Kerlin, two step-daughters; Shari (Mark) San Agustin and Yvette (Frank) Arce, 21 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.