Donald Lee Collins
May 25, 1929- November 29, 2024
Donald Lee Collins, 95, of Anderson, Indiana, was born on May 25, 1929 in Flint, Michigan and passed away peacefully in his home on November 29, 2024. Don lived a life of Christian servitude, with a special commitment to building bridges between the church and populations that often felt disenfranchised from the church.
Called to pastoral ministry at the age of 17, Don graduated from Anderson College in 1951 and earned his Master of Divinity Degree at Union Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary. During his student pastorate in Gloucester, New Jersey, Don married the love of his life, Gloria. His pastoral work included twelve years at a Church of God congregation in Pittsburgh, eight years as the Pastor of Outreach at Park Place Church of God in Anderson, and nineteen years as the Campus Pastor and Professor of Bible and Religion at Anderson University, continuing to teach part-time another thirteen years. Throughout his ministry, Don was passionate about linking congregants and students with community services, thereby meeting the directive of Matthew 25:40 of serving God by serving others.
In addition to volunteer involvement on multiple community and church-sponsored activities, Don spent his retirement years planning the Family Rendezvous, which were Don and Gloria’s gift to their ever-enlarging family. The thirty-four years of Rendezvous gave the family the opportunity to travel to a myriad of locations throughout the United States and abroad.
Don was deeply loved by his surviving family members, including his three children: Deborah (Jeff), Jay, and Lori (Randy), as well as seven grandchildren: Isaiah (Laura), Kelsey (Peter), Micah (Candace), Rebecca (Nate), Sarah, Kimberly (Daniel), and Mark, and one great-grandchild, Isaac. He was preceded in death by his devoted wife of over 70 years, Gloria (Jeune) Collins.
A memorial service for Don will be held at Park Place Church of God in Anderson on Saturday, December 21 at 11 a.m. Visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Bessie Byrum Lounge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Don and Gloria Collins Endowment, c/o Park Place Church of God (501 College Drive, Anderson, Indiana 46012). This endowment will continue their support of the Park Place Community Center and Food Pantry.
Don loved radically, and his ministry has exponentially impacted the lives of people across the country and internationally. He will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. May his memory be a blessing.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com