Robert Louis Collins Jr.
August 15, 1943 – July 6, 2023

Robert Louis Collins Jr. traded in his wheelchair for a pair of dancing shoes on July 6th, 2023. He went to meet his Lord and savior and greet his mom, dad, sister and the rest of his family who preceded him. We are sure it was a beautiful reunion.
 
Bob was born August 15, 1943, in Seattle, Washington, to Annie and Robert (Roberts) Collins. He was raised in California where he graduated college with an art and nursing degree.  
 
In 1976, Bob met the love of his life, Anita. After four dates they fell in love, got married, and a year later they moved to Oregon. They spent the rest of his life together, and raised somewhere between 4 and 500 children, depending on who you ask in Sweet Home. Bob believed that love makes a family and took countless people into his heart and home over the years.
 
Bob held many jobs throughout his lifetime. He worked as a nurse, bike repairman, and a solar power promoter. He served for several years as a Sunday School teacher, and as an elder for the church. He drove the delivery van for the Santiam Meat Market, selected the records to play at KFIR during Anita’s DJ era, volunteered at the Hult Center in Eugene, and he set up the empire where his son Dan would become the lawn mowing Czar of the greater Meadowlark Lane region.  And from 1977-the 2000s, he served as the co-pilot at Collins Kids childcare. “Make yourself useful,” he told his children, and he followed the same decree.
 
An avid collector of books, Bob deeply enjoyed the study of art, theology, history, philosophy and culture. He loved all kinds of music, from Agape Songs to ZZ Top. He was a prolific painter and exhibited his work in Oregon and Washington.
 
Bob’s life was impacted by a spinal condition called Syringomyelia. It created a number of physical challenges for him, and at the same time, he credited the condition for his spiritual growth.  He sometimes said, “I may be sitting in this chair, but I run with the Lord.”  He loved to travel and ministered to people everywhere he went. Whether he was at Mollie’s Bakery, or at a Bullfight in Mexico, he could always be found asking a stranger if they’d like to pray together.
 
Bob Collins leaves a legacy of deep devotion to God and to his community. He was a living testament to the peace that passes understanding, He truly loved people. He loved his family most of all. We will miss him dearly.

A celebration of life and 80th birthday BBQ will be 3:30 pm Tuesday August 15th at Sweet Home Evangelical Church. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.