Robert A. Collins
November 16, 1940 – September 24, 2019
Robert “Bob” Allan Collins, 78, of Melbourne and Apollo Beach, Fla., passed peacefully September 8, 2019, after a short illness, surrounded by family and close friends. Born November 16, 1940, in St. Louis, Mo., to Robert and Jane Collins.
Bob graduated from Westminster College where he was active in Sigma Chi fraternity and ROTC. He earned a Juris Doctor at University of Kansas School of Law. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1993 in addition to other states and Washington, D.C. federal courts. Bob was an officer in the U.S. Army Armor, Ft. Knox, Ky. and later in the Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel. In 1968 he moved to Melbourne, Fla., joining Harris Corporation for 27 years, during which time he earned an MS degree in Procurement Management at Florida Institute of Technology.
After leaving Florida, he lived in Kansas, Maine and Texas, working at several corporations as vice president and senior legal and business executive experienced in managing global and domestic legal functions, contract management and business development functions at multiple global businesses for Flowserve Corporation, SPX Corporation and Allied Signal/Honeywell. One of his proudest accomplishments was being admitted to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Upon retirement from corporate America, which he so thoroughly enjoyed, he became active in his church and neighborhood community where he served on various boards and offered legal advice to people in need and, even, fried fish for Friday night church fundraisers. Additionally, he was very involved in the lives of his grandchildren – attending activities, being ever so supportive and providing guidance on the way of the world, most importantly how to be a good person.
In addition to his wife, Martha Beaujean Collins, Bob is survived by his daughter, Lisa Peart Loosbrock (Tom); grandchildren Will and Ben Loosbrock, Apollo Beach, Fla.; his sister, Barbara Ramsey (William “Bill”), Yuma, Ariz.; his niece, Alison Ramsey Rutherfurd, grand-nephews, Calum and Levi Rutherfurd, Sebastopol, Calif.; brother-in-law and partner, Don Beaujean, Sena Biruchenko, Willow, Ala.; nephew, Bristol Beaujean and family; and nieces Brittany and Grace Beaujean, Anchorage, Ala.; and former wife, Adrienne Collins, Melbourne, Fla.
Bob’s love of family, quick wit and sense of honor and duty will be remembered by those whose lives he touched. Military honors, services and a celebration of his life were held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne, September 28, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society, where Bob was a former board member.
<h2>Mary “Helen” Gierhart</h2>
<img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-26720" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2019/10/GIERHART-120x200.jpg" alt="" width="120" height="200" />Mary “Helen” Gierhart, age 92, of Sun City Center, Florida, (formerly of Sidney, Ohio,) passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at her home with family by her side. Helen was born in Orange Township, Sidney, Ohio, on April 30, 1927, to the late Harry and Genevieve (Cole) Keiber. She attended Orange Township schools and worked many years at Miller’s Dress Shop, downtown Sidney.
Preceded in death by her parents; husband of 58 years, Richard Gierhart, in 2001, and sisters, Clara Woodruff and Ruth Keiber, Helen is survived by her children, Gary Gierhart and Earnest Mackey of Lakeland, Fla.; Barbara and Mike Kinstle, Wapakoneta, Ohio; Linda Bristow, Sun City Center, Fla.; Dennis Gierhart, Sun City Center, Fla.; Karen and Perry Connor, Apollo Beach, Fla.; Ronald Gierhart and George Sargent, Covington, Ohio; David and Donna Gierhart, Acworth, Ga., and Sandy Smith, Sun City Center, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and great friends, along with her loving companion, Sophie.
Helen was an avid fan of John Wayne and in her later years got to sing and dance with “Elvis.” She will be greatly missed. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.
Bob graduated from Westminster College where he was active in Sigma Chi fraternity and ROTC. He earned a Juris Doctor at University of Kansas School of Law. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1993 in addition to other states and Washington, D.C. federal courts. Bob was an officer in the U.S. Army Armor, Ft. Knox, Ky. and later in the Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel. In 1968 he moved to Melbourne, Fla., joining Harris Corporation for 27 years, during which time he earned an MS degree in Procurement Management at Florida Institute of Technology.
After leaving Florida, he lived in Kansas, Maine and Texas, working at several corporations as vice president and senior legal and business executive experienced in managing global and domestic legal functions, contract management and business development functions at multiple global businesses for Flowserve Corporation, SPX Corporation and Allied Signal/Honeywell. One of his proudest accomplishments was being admitted to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Upon retirement from corporate America, which he so thoroughly enjoyed, he became active in his church and neighborhood community where he served on various boards and offered legal advice to people in need and, even, fried fish for Friday night church fundraisers. Additionally, he was very involved in the lives of his grandchildren – attending activities, being ever so supportive and providing guidance on the way of the world, most importantly how to be a good person.
In addition to his wife, Martha Beaujean Collins, Bob is survived by his daughter, Lisa Peart Loosbrock (Tom); grandchildren Will and Ben Loosbrock, Apollo Beach, Fla.; his sister, Barbara Ramsey (William “Bill”), Yuma, Ariz.; his niece, Alison Ramsey Rutherfurd, grand-nephews, Calum and Levi Rutherfurd, Sebastopol, Calif.; brother-in-law and partner, Don Beaujean, Sena Biruchenko, Willow, Ala.; nephew, Bristol Beaujean and family; and nieces Brittany and Grace Beaujean, Anchorage, Ala.; and former wife, Adrienne Collins, Melbourne, Fla.
Bob’s love of family, quick wit and sense of honor and duty will be remembered by those whose lives he touched. Military honors, services and a celebration of his life were held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne, September 28, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society, where Bob was a former board member.
<h2>Mary “Helen” Gierhart</h2>
<img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-26720" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2019/10/GIERHART-120x200.jpg" alt="" width="120" height="200" />Mary “Helen” Gierhart, age 92, of Sun City Center, Florida, (formerly of Sidney, Ohio,) passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at her home with family by her side. Helen was born in Orange Township, Sidney, Ohio, on April 30, 1927, to the late Harry and Genevieve (Cole) Keiber. She attended Orange Township schools and worked many years at Miller’s Dress Shop, downtown Sidney.
Preceded in death by her parents; husband of 58 years, Richard Gierhart, in 2001, and sisters, Clara Woodruff and Ruth Keiber, Helen is survived by her children, Gary Gierhart and Earnest Mackey of Lakeland, Fla.; Barbara and Mike Kinstle, Wapakoneta, Ohio; Linda Bristow, Sun City Center, Fla.; Dennis Gierhart, Sun City Center, Fla.; Karen and Perry Connor, Apollo Beach, Fla.; Ronald Gierhart and George Sargent, Covington, Ohio; David and Donna Gierhart, Acworth, Ga., and Sandy Smith, Sun City Center, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and great friends, along with her loving companion, Sophie.
Helen was an avid fan of John Wayne and in her later years got to sing and dance with “Elvis.” She will be greatly missed. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.