Updated: 06 Sep 2009

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September 23, 19—
Sapulpa Herald
Creek Co. OK

PIONEER INDUSTRIALIST OF SAPULPA SUCCUMBS TO STROKE
SERVICES FROM TULSA HOME

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o’clock tomorrow after noon at the family home in Tulsa, for George F. Collins age 66 industrial leader of Sapulpa. Who died yesterday afternoon in a Tulsa Hospital

Dr. Golden Lawrence, pastor of the First Methodist Church, Tulsa, will officiate at the service. Collins will be buried there in the Rose Hill Mausoleum beside the body of his first wife who died 10 years ago.

Collins, pioneer glass manufacturer of Sapulpa, who retired from active management of the Liberty Glass company here as president about six months ago, is survived by one son George F. Collins, Jr., one daughter Mrs. Loreine Collins Price; his step-mother Mrs. Laura Ann Collins of Bend, Ore.; one sister, Mrs. Ed Moore of Arapaho, Neb.; a half-sister, Mrs. Carl Baker, of Bend; two half-brothers, Forrest Collins of Los Angeles and Frank Collins of Sapulpa.

Announcement was made here today that the Liberty Glass plant would continue in operation as in the past and no changes were contemplated.

Collins had owned and operated the Liberty Glass Company since 1918. He came here in 1912 and became associated with H. U. Bartlett in a partnership of the Bartlett-Collins glass plant for six years then sold his interest in that company and formed the Liberty Glass concern. About six months ago, because of ill health, Collins resigned as president of his glass company to be succeeded by his son. Collins however, retained chairmanship of the board of directors.

While living in Sapulpa before moving to Tulsa in 1927, Collins was active in the First Methodist church here. His name is inscribed on the cornerstone as one of the building committee. He also was active in the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and other civic circles. He was a thirty-second degree Mason. At Tulsa he was equally active in church and civic groups.

Collins was born on a farm at Thayer, Kans., and was graduated from the high school there. He finished his education at Baker university, a Methodist church at Baldwin, Kans,. And later was a trustee there.

He was a school teacher and a superintendent at Neodesha, Kan., spent two years on a farm in Texas, returned to Kansas and became associated with his father-in-law in a glass plant at Coffeeville, then came to Sapulpa in 1912.