Derek Littleton Collins

ARLINGTON -- Derek Littleton Collins passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at his home in Arlington, just one day shy of his 72nd birthday. Funeral: 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, at Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Rd., Arlington, the Rev. Bobby Bridges officiating. Interment: Rose Hill Memorial Gardens, Fort Worth. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in his honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org. Derek was born June 28, 1943, in Charleston, W.Va., to Estice Littleton Collins and Lucille Beaver Collins. Derek's lifelong career in the commercial hardware industry began at age 20, working for a distributor and later as a salesman in the Maryland and Virginia area. In 1979, he moved his family to Arlington and established DL Collins Associates, Inc., an independent sales agency representing manufacturers of commercial building products. Derek was involved in DHI (the Door and Hardware Institute), earning his AHC certification. He played an active role in the local DHI-Texas Chapter and later went on to be a door hardware instructor - teaching and mentoring students to acquire their certification as well. He was highly respected amongst his peers and later was given the honorary title of Distinguished Architectural Hardware Consulted in recognition of his years of service to the industry. Derek was one of the kindest and most generous people you will ever know. Derek never met a stranger. He was fun-loving and could tell a great joke! Derek enjoyed drag racing, vintage muscle cars, NASCAR and golf. He loved his family and his grandsons were the light of his life. He will be missed by many. Derek was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Sydney Alice Beaver Collins. Survivors: His wife of 51 years, Sally; daughters, Stephanie and husband, Ignacio, Melanie and husband, Dwain, Julie and husband, Howard Jr., Kelley and husband, Jeff; grandsons, Daniel, Jacob, Aaron, Derek and Drew; family and friends.