Susan Dilworth Collins

Susan Dilworth Collins, age 77, of Conyers, Georgia, died October 18, 2023. She was born March 31, 1946, in Emory, Georgia to the late Col. Dr. Warren H. Brune and Ann Dilworth Brune. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, David J. Collins, brother Mark M. Brune, and sister Beth Brune Phillips. Susan loved to travel, perhaps as a result of being raised as the child of an Army Surgeon. They were stationed in such exotic places as Fort Campbell, KY; Honolulu, HI; Fort Sill, OK; Boblingen, Germany; and Aberdeen, MD. It was as a teenage Candy Striper at Aberdeen Proving Ground that the Colonel's daughter met, chased, and caught the Corpsman Private she wanted to grow old with. After marriage and, eventually, children, they moved less frequently, with stops in New York and Pennsylvania, until finally settling in Georgia in 1990. However, she still enjoyed visiting other places and was always happy when she was on the move, especially if she got to drive and the car was fast. In 2021, she visited her 50th state, Alaska, in an epic solo winter adventure. She had a lifelong love of learning, earning a bachelor's degree (via correspondence classes) from The University of the State of New York and a Master of Arts and Religion from Lancaster Theological Seminary. Although never ordained, Susan continued her religious studies throughout the rest of her life. That love of learning also translated to passing on knowledge. Her profession led her to Instructional Design, but her passion was for childrens education as a Sunday School teacher, beginning when she was a pre-teen. She also was almost unbeatable at any word games (by anyone except her baby brother) or trivia contests and easily retained some of the most remarkably obscure and useless facts. Service was important to Susan. She was a member of St. Simon's Episcopal Church for 33 years. Although not as active in her last years, she served several times on the vestry including as senior warden and as an occasional choir member (her once Peabody Institute trained soprano deepening into an enthusiastic tenor over the years). She volunteered with the National Parks Service both as a librarian at the Martin Luther King, Jr National Historical Park and as a guide with the Trails and Rails program. She was also a former member and Post President of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Latham, NY. She is survived by daughters Cecelia (Paul) Senft and Claudia (Matthew) Phillips, son Jared Mclean, brother David (Nancy) Brune; grandchildren Kole Mclean, Victoria Phillips, Connor Weyant, and Flint Mclean; companion Danny Giles; nieces and nephews; and two cats (Lucifur and Zelda) who miss her very much already. Services will be held Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 2:00pm at St. Simon's Episcopal Church, Conyers, GA with a 1:00pm visitation. Susan loved flowers at funerals, but contributions in her name can be made to FurKids.org or St. Simon's Episcopal Church (In Memory of Susan D. Collins). Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, GA 30012, 770-483-7216.

Susan Dilworth Collins

March 31, 1946 - October 18, 2023