Terrance A. Collins

PETALUMA, CA: Terrance A. Collins, 79, of Petaluma, CA passed away peacefully at his home in Petaluma on Thursday, July 29, 2021, surrounded by his devoted wife, Rose and loving family. Terry was born November 19, 1941, in Escanaba, MI and was the son of Warren “Dale” and Dorothy Collins. He was a 1959 Graduate of Ross High School where he was their starting quarterback and linebacker for the football team – never left the field.  He was also the Captain of the tennis team and their number one player.   Terry married Rose on August 22, 1991, on a beautiful day in Tahoe, California and welcomed her adult children, Tim and Terry, into his family.  Rose has been his loving companion and matriarch of the whole family for these past thirty years.   After trying out a few different careers – door to door encyclopedia salesman, paint shop owner, insurance sales - Terry entered the food service industry and stayed there for most of his life.  He began his career with McDonald’s where he rose from store manager at their Ohio State campus location to be one of their youngest Regional Vice Presidents ever, in charge of all the McDonald’s in the five Western States, in his early thirties.   Terry went on to lead various other restaurant chains – Burger Chef in the Midwest; PepsiCo’s fast food division which included Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell and La Petite Boulangerie; Victory Station restaurants – before venturing out on his own and becoming partners in Murphy’s Pizza with Bob Graham.   Murphy’s Pizza would eventually evolve into Papa Murphy’s Take n Bake Pizza as the chain grew from 8 initial locations when Terry joined in 1988 to over 1,500 today and has been voted by consumers the “Best Pizza Chain in America” multiple times since 2003. After Terry sold Papa Murphy's, he enjoyed spending time with his wife and family and playing golf with his friends at Bighorn and the Petaluma Golf and Country Club.    Over the years, Terry and Rose supported many charities with fundraising, golf tournaments and donating their own time to Hospice of Petaluma, Petaluma C.O.T.S. and many other organizations.   Terry is survived by his loving wife Rose Collins, Petaluma, CA; children, Doug Collins (Lynda), West Linn, OR, Eric Collins, Bend, OR, Terry Kodweis (Bill), Petaluma, CA, Tim Sweeney (Maryann), Petaluma, CA;  brothers, Maurice Collins, Greenville, SC, Pat Collins, Beloit, IL, Kent Collins, Lake Oswego, OR, Matt Collins, Denver, CO, grandchildren, Mickey, Hunter, Laysha, Jessica, Emma, Conner, Kyleigh, Olivia, Michelle Stephanie and Matthew; great granchildren, Taylor, Rylee, Charlie, Hunter, Xaiden, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Dorothy Collins.   He was a generous and wonderful man who will be greatly missed.    Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk Street, Petaluma, CA. 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.   Funeral will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 35 Liberty Street, Petaluma, CA.    A private Internment for family will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021.

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