Joe Collings Obituary

Joe Allen Collings was born on March 11, 1925, to Clarence Smiley Collings and Eva Belle Jeffries in Judson, Parke County, Indiana. He passed away on Friday, August 14, 2009, at home with his family at his side.

As a child Joe's family moved to Huntington Indiana where he attended grade school and later moved to West Lafayette Indiana where he graduated from high school in May 1943. Upon high school graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy V-12 program at Purdue University. During his college years he played varsity football and was a member of Kappa Sigma Social Fraternity as well as Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi honors fraternities. He graduated with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in June 1945. During the graduation ceremony Joe was awarded the Big Ten Conference Medal for scholastic and athletic achievement.

Joe then went on to attend Midshipmen's School at Cornell University and was appointed an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserves in September 1945, serving aboard the USS Grafton in the Pacific Arena. He was discharged in July 1946. Joe worked for Eastman Kodak in Rochester New York until 1947, when he returned to Purdue to further his education. In 1947, while at Purdue he met Priscilla Osgood. They were married in February 1949, and soon after moved to the Collings family farm near Romney Indiana.

That first year while farming he completed his thesis and was awarded a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics. During their years on the farm, their three children were born and attended the local school. Joe was elected Township Trustee and during his term was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of a consolidated high school for five Townships. Joe raised hogs and cattle and the usual mid-western crops and enjoyed his life on the farm. In 1964 the family moved to Fresno where Joe continued to work in agricultural management and leasing, banking and real estate. He worked two short overseas agricultural assignments in the Middle East and while semi-retired, owned and managed a laundromat in Los Banos. In his leisure time, Joe continued his passion for sports as a participant in tennis and squash, and as an avid sports spectator. He served as president of the Fig Garden Swim and Racquet Club from 1973-74. Joe was also an active member of SIRS, Branch 175, enjoyed playing Bridge, dominoes and was an avid reader.

Joe was a devoted husband and family man and was always true to his ideals of honesty and integrity. He was loved by his children and grandchildren and will be dearly missed.

Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Alice Ruth Ward.

In addition to his wife Priscilla; he is survived by his brother Dale of Arizona; son Mike and his wife Jill of Fresno; son Jim and his wife Mary of Chula Vista; and daughter Cate and her husband Tim of Los Altos Hills; grandchildren, Stephanie, Justin, Laura, Amasa, Priscilla and Talie; and great-grandchildren Zane, Layla, Taylor and Rio.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration and remembrance of Joe's life at Fig Garden Swim and Racquet Club, 4722 N. Maroa, Fresno, on Monday, August 24, 2009, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Remembrances may be made to the Poverello House, American Cancer Society or Hinds Hospice.