Glenna Mae Collins

Glenna Mae Collins, age 72, of Dover, passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, February 8, 2012, in Mercy Medical Center at Canton following an extended illness in which she fought a valiant and courageous battle.

Born in her family home at New Philadelphia, February 26, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Edwin S. and Raney E. Blackwell Metzger.

Glenna attended school at New Philadelphia before she met and fell in love with her husband James B. Collins. The couple Wed August 1, 1959, and he preceded her in death on September 2, 1979.

Together they reared a family that includes a son, Michael Collins of Dover, and daughters Kathleen Kail and her fiancé Bill Hug of Dellroy, Karen (husband, Chuck) Macomber of New Philadelphia, Sandra (husband, Forrest “Frosty”) Hunt of Dover, and
Candy (husband, Dave) Dallas, also of Dover.

Her pride and joy, in addition to her children, were her 18 grandchildren: Andrew Kail and his fiancé Jen Fry, Robert Kail, Chuck Macomber, Ashley (husband, Chris) Bolton, Emily Macomber and her fiancé Zach Swartzwelder, Brock Espenschied, Tiffany Heilman, Haley Heilman, Brianna Collins, James Collins, Miranda Dallas, Marchessa (husband Jacob) Riemer, twins; John and Paul Dallas, Michael Quesada, and Michelle Pardo-Collins.

Nine great-grandchildren; Anna and Ava Kail, Elizabeth and Alexis Bolton, Destiny, Jordan and Ryan Collins, Kayden Mathias, and Addison Watson also survive.

Survivors also include a brother; David C. (wife, Pat) Metzger of New Philadelphia, her daughters-in-law; Chri Collins and Krista Ferrell both of New Philadelphia. Nephews Steve, Joe, Ken and Davey Metzger of the area, and niece Christina Collins and nephews Paul, Kevin and Patrick Collins of Texas complete the family.

For most of her life, Glenna worked for the Ford Motor Company, retiring after 31 years of faithful service across three states and four plants.

Glenna will be remembered as a hard-working and loving wife and mother, grandmother and sister. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting, taking bus trips with other seniors, camping with her family and enjoying luncheons with her friends.

Her memberships included the Livonia, Michigan Women of the Moose, VFW post 1445 at New Philadelphia, the United Auto Workers Union, the Ford Retiree’s Association, and the Tuscarawas County Senior Center.

Glenna loved to sing, yodel and dance. Family events were well-documented thanks to her insistence upon taking many pictures and videos. If you were lucky enough to have her for a friend, you had a friend for life. Glenna’s ability to recall and tell jokes is legendary among her family and friends.

Her favorite companions were her two tea-cup poodles, named Cinnamon and Styx.

In addition to her parents and husband, Glenna is preceded in death by her son, James P. Collins, daughter, Kimberly M. Collins, granddaughter, Stacy E. Kail, son-in-law, David Espenschied, and great-granddaughters, the Macomber twins.

Friends are invited to call Friday from 5-8 in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia.

Minister Tim Hatfield will lead Glenna’s funeral service Saturday morning at 11 in the funeral home’s chapel.

Burial, will follow in New Philadelphia’s Evergreen Burial Park.

Following the committal service, family and friends will gather for a reception in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home.