Harold Francis Collins

Harold Francis Collins Jr., 78, of Dunnellon, passed away Tuesday (8/20) at his home. He was born in Long Island, New York to the late Harold F. Sr. and Veronica Collins.

He graduated from Miami Tech in 1955 and was awarded Florida's Apprentice Carpenter of the Year. He transitioned to television and the motion picture industry as a prop maker for Ivan Tors Studios, starting on the Flipper and Gentle Ben series. As a member of IATSE Local 545, he went on to become a charter member of local 477 where he would build and coordinate the sets of dozens of television and feature films like Cocoon, Robo Cop, Sleepless in Seattle, Prince of Tides, and the colossal monumental backdrop for Tom Hanks, “There's no crying in baseball”, Huntingburg Stadium, Indiana, for A League of their Own. As a licensed general contractor, he built dozens of custom homes in Marion County. His “construction team” affectionately referred to themselves as “Harold's Nail Drivers”.

He was an active member and board member of the Dunnellon Little League.

He was preceded  in death by his brother Harvey. Surviving family includes his wife Sherri; children and their spouses Les (Beth) Collins, Tobaccoville, NC, Wayne (Jayn) Collins, Peachtree City, GA, Linda (Joseph) O'Halloran, Orlando, FL, Christopher and Janelle Labarca, and Ka'lei Collins, Dunnellon; grandchildren Leslie Ann Tim, Christopher Collins, Nicholas Collins, Emma O'Halloran, Sarah Grace Collins, Isiah Sheffield, Rileigh Labarca. Sister Vera Knapp.

A funeral service, celebrating his life, will be conducted on Saturday (8/24) 3:00 PM at St. Johns United Methodist Church, 12390 W. Hwy 328, Ocala, with Pastor Milton Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. Family and Friends will visit at the church on Saturday from 1:30 until service time.

The family suggests memorial donations to the Dunnellon Little League, P.O. Box 704, Dunnellon 34430 or St. Johns United Methodist Church Building Fund, 12390 W Highway 328, Ocala 34482.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon.