Tom H. Collins

Tom H. Collins, Jr. June 21, 1935 – November 11, 2011 Tom H. Collins, Jr. of Waco passed away Friday, November 11, 2011. Services will be at 1 p.m., Monday, November 14, 2011, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. A native Wacoan, Tom graduated from Waco High School and then Baylor University with a degree in Accounting. In 1958, he married Eleanor Lou Mackey, his loving wife of 52 years until her death in 2010. They had two children, Charlotte and Carolyn. A CPA since 1969, Tom spent 35 years in tax practice, which he loved. He spent 8 years with the Internal Revenue Service, 16 years as a partner in a national CPA firm, including several years as the managing partner of the Waco office, 3 years as a financial executive of a banking, insurance, real estate, and manufacturing conglomerate, and 8 years as a solo practitioner with his own small firm. The highlight of his career, however, was his time serving as the Executive Director of the Waco Foundation from 1997 to 2007, where he had previously served on the Board of Directors for many years. During his involvement with the Waco Foundation as a board member and Executive Director, the assets of the Foundation grew from approximately $2 million to nearly $40 million as a result of generous donations, market growth, and Tom’s capable leadership. Tom was deeply committed to the Waco community and served it in many other ways, as well. At his death, he was an active Rotarian, where he served on the scholarship committee for many years. He was a long term board member of both Central Texas Senior Ministry Meals and Wheels and Family Counseling and Children’s Services, and he served as President of each of those boards. He also served as a Director and Vice-President of Finance of the Waco Symphony. He was a long-time member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where he twice served as a Vestry member and as Treasurer. He also served as Treasurer and board member of St. Paul’s Episcopal School. Throughout his long career, Tom was a trusted advisor, friend and mentor to many in the community. Professionally, Tom was highly regarded for his technical knowledge of the tax code and for his ability to analyze complex problems and communicate them in ways that others could understand. His clients trusted his no-nonsense advice. With his calm demeanor, he was a natural mediator with an innate ability to solve problems and find common ground. Tom was a devoted husband and father to his girls. His happiest times were boating with his family, relaxing in the Frio River, and grilling steaks every Sunday evening. He was an amazing role model for his family. Tom was preceded in death by his wife Lou and his parents, Tom H. Collins, Sr. and Faye Burney Collins. He is survived by his daughter Charlotte Collins Tilotta of Columbus, Texas, and Charlotte’s close friend Sylvester Bedford; his daughter Carolyn Collins Ostrom and husband Eric of Austin; grandchildren Annika and Thomas Ostrom; brother Ben Burney Collins; and neice and nephew Emily and Benjamin Collins. The family is deeply grateful to Lillie Demar for her loving care of both Lou and Tom over many years, and for Sherry Terry, who also assisted Tom during the last year. Pallbearers are Leo Bradshaw, Larry Jaynes, Mike Reitmeier, Derral Parks, Eric Ostrom, and Sylvester Bedford. Honorary Pallbearers are Floyd Jensen, Harris Allen, Francis Gillette, and Cleveland Witt. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lou and Tom Collins Fund for Early Childhood Development at the Waco Foundation, 1105 Wooded Acres Drive, Suite 701, Waco, Texas 76710, or to the charity of choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey