Longtime Neilton resident Charles E. “Chuck” Collins died at his home Thursday evening October 26, 2017. Chuck was born in Seattle on July 5, 1937, the son of William E. and Swanie (Kvalsund) Collins. He attended Seattle schools and had served in the US Air Force in the late 1950s. He married Wanda Olmsted in Seattle on December 4, 1958.
Chuck had worked in construction after the Air Force and had worked in constructing the Space Needle. In 1965 he came to the Olympic Penninsula to help at the family motel and grocery. He started driving log trucks and operating the shovel for Morrison Logging, then Clearwater Logging and other companies. He and Wanda maintained several rental properties in which they had invested.
He enjoyed carpentry and building things, “back yard mechanics” and collecting movies. He and Wanda belonged to the Harbor Hay-Lofters Square Dance Club. Over the years they were foster parents to many children.
Besides Wanda, his wife of 58 years, Chuck is survived by three sons: Lynn E. and wife Katherine Collins, Olympia, Scott L. and wife Leslie Collins and Brad T. Collins, of Neilton; two daughters: Teresa and husband Michael Mullins, Humptulips and Tamara and husband Ken Greninger, Montrose, CO; a brother: Jackson and wife Linda Herwig, Arlington, WA; and also 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 1-8 PM Thursday, November 2nd and until service time Friday at Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.
A funeral service will be held at 1 PM Friday, November 3nd at the Chapel at Fern Hill Funeral Home. A potluck reception will follow in the Dorothy Mann Reception Room at the funeral home. Private burial will take place in Fern Hill Cemetery, Aberdeen.
A card of condolence with a message or a memory may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home, 2208 Roosevelt St., Aberdeen.