Donald Melder Collins, 92, of Bridge City, Texas, passed peacefully into the glory of Heaven on November 15, 2025, after several difficult months of declining health. Born in Port Arthur, TX on January 22, 1933, he was the youngest child of Della Mae Melder Collins and Isaac C. “Ike” Collins.
Don graduated from Lutcher Stark High School in Orange, TX in 1951, and followed his dad and both his brothers into employment at the Texas Company (later Texaco) in Port Arthur. He had a military leave of absence to serve 3 years in the U.S. Army from late 1953 through 1956, before returning to Texas and Texaco. He often said that while he thought he might not survive boot camp, he saw a lot of the USA and the world during his service and learned lifelong lessons, which were evident in the way he made a bed, cleaned a car or boat, and took care of his possessions. But the best thing he picked up along the way was a wife, meeting his beloved Sue Wall Collins in Clarksville, TN while he was stationed just across the border at Fort Campbell, KY.
After his discharge, Don and Sue set up housekeeping in what the family jokingly calls “Collinsville” in Bridge City, TX. It was a perfect place to raise a family, surrounded by neighbors who were also relatives. There were family get-togethers, camping trips, kids’ sports and extracurricular activities, just a wonderful, happy life. He was a huge fan of football, attending all the BCHS games. He was also a long-time loyal fan of the Dallas Cowboy, both in their championship years and their less-than-stellar years. The family often feared he would have a heart attack the way he would get so wrapped up in the game, yelling about Coach Tom Landry’s playcalling or the performance of the players.
Fishing, however, was always Don’s passion and most avid hobby, and provided for many wonderful fish fries, a family favorite. He loved the outdoors and in his younger years enjoyed bird, squirrel, and duck hunting. Softy that he was, he switched from hunting to birdwatching and feeding the backyard birds and squirrels the rest of his life. He was a fan of horse racing, and he and Sue loved spending an evening at Delta Downs Racetrack when it opened. They enjoyed a healthy competition to see who the better handicapper was, and much to Don’s bruised ego, Sue could usually pick the horses better than he could. In later years, they enjoyed weekend getaways to play the slot machines. He retired from Texaco/Star Enterprise in 1991 after 40 years of service. He was thrilled to be able to fish nearly every day after retirement, and he did so until health issues prevented it. It was a sad day when he reluctantly sold his boat.
Everyone who knew Don loved him, thanks to that twinkle in his eye and warm smile. He was a devoted and loving husband, dad, Pawpaw, brother, uncle, and friend, who will be deeply missed. The family wishes to thank the wonderful ladies who provided such excellent and loving care for him these past nine months, Lisa, Ethel, and Felicia.
Don was preceded in death by his wife, Sue, who he took care of everyday with the most beautiful selfless devotion following her dementia diagnosis until her passing two years ago. His children used to say their dad was not a caregiver type and always joked that if their mom became seriously ill, he would be finding a care home for her. Did he ever prove them wrong, stepping up to show what true love for your spouse looks like! Don was also preceded in death by his parents; his sister Louise Hamilton, and his brothers I.C. Collins, Jr and William “Bill” Collins.
He is survived by his daughter, Debbie and Randy Petty; his son, Mike Collins and Trisha Clement; and his daughter, Patty Collins and Chuck Kennison. He was the fun-loving and much-beloved Pawpaw to grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) Tiffanie Bannon (Makayla and Kirsten); Jenny Jung and husband Nic (Axel and Emerson); Joshua Schmuck and wife Amanda (Maddison, Silas, and Maxwell); Cory Woodson (Cortlyn and Kelcyn); and Michael Petty. He is also survived by his loving sister-in-law, JoAnn Collins, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, and their families.
The funeral, under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home, will be held at St Paul Methodist Church, 1155 W. Roundbunch Road, Bridge City, TX on Sunday, November 23, 2025. Visitation begins at 1pm, with the funeral immediately following at 2pm. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 4560 Hwy 87, Orange, TX. Serving as pallbearers will be Gary Collins, Jody Hollier, Bill Brown, Cory Woodson, Joshua Schmuck, and Michael Petty. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Don’s memory may be made to the St Paul Methodist Church Prayer Garden or to MD Anderson Cancer Center, whose Leukemia experts gave him nearly two additional decades of quality life.
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