James Frederick Collins Obituary

James Frederick Collins

Charleston - James F. Collins died peacefully the morning of February 5, 2026, at the age of 98.

Jim was born in Toledo, Ohio. As a young child, he lived in a number of small towns in Michigan. The family moved to a farm near Reading, Michigan, when Jim was a teenager. Jim graduated from Reading High School in 1946 and joined the US Army that summer. He served two years in Japan.

After being discharged from the Army, Jim attended Michigan State College (now University). After two years in college, he landed a job in software development, a nascent career path at the time. Jim stayed in the computer software field his entire career. He worked and lived in the Detroit area until his retirement from General Electric in 1989.

Upon retirement, Jim immediately moved to Charleston (James Island) and began volunteering with various social service programs, including Lowcountry AIDS Services, United Way's 211 emergency hotline, and Families Helping Families. Volunteering was important to Jim: "Volunteering helps me know I am doing something with my lifeI have a need to give back to the community that which I couldn't give when I was working."

Jim was preceded in death by his cherished friend Billy Brown, a sister, and two brothers. His sister, Helen Collins Kramer (Jerry), survives.

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