The Rev. Leroy Collins, beloved husband, father, grandfather and minister, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday morning, Nov. 27, 2018, at his home in Nashville. After a brave fight with illness for the past year, Leroy passed away to glory at the age of 72, surrounded by his loving wife and children.

Leroy was born on Jan. 9, 1946 in Indianapolis to his parents, Dennis and Lottie C. (Brock) Collins. He was a graduate of Brown County High School.

Leroy will be remembered for always wanting to help others in his community. He helped start and build the Gatesville Fire Department in 1971, where he later served as the treasurer and captain. In 1972, he joined the Brown County Civil Defense and helped install the 911 system. He later became Emergency Preparedness director from 1985 to 1989. Leroy was the owner and operator of Gatesville General Store from 1976 to 1981. He drove a school bus for Brown County Schools from 1979 to 1998. In 1991, Leroy helped form Brown County Animal Control and worked as an officer for four years.

His true passion was serving the Lord as a minister. Leroy began his ministry at age 23 and faithfully taught and preached at several small churches in need of rebuilding. Over the last 49 years, he preached at Goshen, Mt. Zion, Spearsville Wesleyan and Helmsburg Wesleyan churches, all in Brown County; at Mt. Olive Chapel in Martinsville, Friendship Community in Trafalgar and Milport Holiness in Milport.

Leroy enjoyed hunting, fishing and tending to his vegetable garden.

Leroy is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Joan (Lehr) Collins, whom he married on May 29, 1964 in Spearsville. He is also survived by his mother, Lottie Collins of Brown County; sons, Ronnie (Stephanie) Collins and John (Pamela) Collins, both of Nashville; siblings, Lloyd (Dottie) Collins, Larry (Linda) Collins and Greg Collins, all of Brown County; grandchildren, Heather (David) Ziegelbauer and Lyndsay Denton, both of Nashville, and Miranda Denton of Bedford; great-grandchildren, Bailey Frick, Karissa, Macy, Eithan and Brendyn Ziegelbauer.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dennis; and a grandson, Jeremy Lee Collins.

The Revs. Marcus Dodrill and Jon Tarter will conduct a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center, 179 E. Mulberry St. in Morgantown. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Spearsville Wesleyan Cemetery, Brown County.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be made to the Collins family at meredith-clark.com. Information: 812-597-4670.