Edward Browning Collins

Edward Browning Collins, age 93, of West Newton, PA, formerly of McKeesport, PA, died on Friday, July 26, 2024. He was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 17, 1931 and was the son of the late Dr. Edward Wilson and Margaret Jones Collins. Edward was the husband of the late Suzanne Kohler Collins and the late Joan Thompson Collins. He proudly served in the United States Navy during the Korean War as a Lieutenant having served aboard a gasoline tanker in the Pacific. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med and Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952. To better utilize his writing skills, Ed took a job with Westinghouse as a technical writer and editor at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in the Advanced Reactors division.

Ed helped to organize and coordinate the Mon Valley Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of the Mon Valley Initiative and was a founding member of the local Community Development Corporation in West Newton. He received citations from the PA House of Representative and the Senate in 1993 for his work with the Mon Valley Initiative. He was an Enterprise Agent for the Washington County Council on Economic Development. He was also a board member for downtown West Newton and initiated the first leg of the Great Allegheny Passage where he organized the volunteers for the Yough River Trail. He was honored by receiving the Senior Games Sportsman of the year in 2023 at Mammoth Park.

Ed’s most proud accomplishment was his wonderful family. He was also very proud that he privately published a book of poetry, The World According to Cows (and other Poems). He was a prolific writer of letters to the editor of the Tribune Review, Westmoreland edition.

He is survived by his children, Cynthia (Dean) Pambacas of White Oak, PA; Ned (Debbie) Collins of Latrobe, PA; Daniel (Sharon) Collins of West Newton, PA; grandchildren, Jenna (Tanner) Solich; Julia (Cole Custer) Collins; Lily Collins; Suzanna (Danny Rettinger) Collins; Nick Pambacas; Ian Pambacas; great-grandchildren, Montana Solich; Silas Solich; and his most beloved cat, Cassie.

In addition to his parents and wives, Edward was preceded in death by his daughter, Lisa Collins; granddaughter, Katie Pambacas; and brother, Robert (the late Gay) Collins.

Family and friends will gather at Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177) on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a religious service and military honors following at the funeral home chapel at 7:00 p.m.

If friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging, 200 S. Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601, or to an animal rescue of your choice.

To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.strifflerfuneralhomes.com