Joseph Louis Collins, 88, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great

grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, and “captain” passed

away peacefully on July 19, 2025 surrounded by family at his bayfront home

in West Wildwood, NJ.

        Born on February 20, 1937 in Philadelphia to John and Nancy Collins, Joe

grew up in a close-knit Irish Catholic family. After completing grade school at

Transfiguration he went on to become a proud graduate of West Philadelphia

Catholic High School for Boys, Class of 1954. He attended Villanova

University and graduated from St. Joseph’s College in 1963.

In his early twenties, he met the love of his life, Joyce (née Ralston). The two

married in 1960 and settled in Clifton Heights, PA, where they raised their

three children - Carolmarie, Joseph Jr., and Rita.

Joe served in the Army National Guard of Pennsylvania for six years. As a

young adult, Joe got his start in business when his father helped him

purchase a fudge shop in the Pennsauken Mart. He later began his

accounting career at Tele Dynamics while attending night school. Joe went on

to serve as Comptroller at Triumph Controls, Inc., where he remained until his

retirement. In addition to his full-time career, he managed a credit union and

prepared personal tax returns for a loyal group of clients, many of whom

became lifelong friends.

     In 1986, Joe and Joyce purchased their dream retirement home on the bay in

West Wildwood, initially spending summers there. When they retired, they

relocated to their little slice of paradise full-time to enjoy the salt air, watch

the tide roll in and out, and crab in the back bays. Their home quickly

became a gathering place, with the door always open to generations of

family and friends for weekend visits and long summer stays at the shore.

Joe was an avid reader and often could be found with a stack of paperback

books on the table beside him. He was well traveled, always ready for a road

trip or the next cruise adventure. With a lifelong love of sports, both as a

player and fan, Joe proudly held Eagles season tickets for over 60 years,

making him the second longest tenured ticket holder in the team’s history.

He lived to see the Eagles win not one, but two Super Bowl championships, a

dream come true.

       His intelligence, wisdom and wit will be deeply missed. Joseph is preceded in

death by his wife, Joyce, parents, and siblings, Pat and Jack. He is survived by

his children Carolmarie (John), Joseph Jr. (Aimee), and Rita (Rob); 8 ​

granddaughters; 13 great-grandchildren; many in-laws, cousins, nieces, and

nephews; and the innumerable friends who became family.

A funeral mass celebrating Joe’s life will be held at St. Ann Church, Notre

Dame De La Mer Parish, in Wildwood on Wednesday, July 23rd; the family will

receive guests for visitation beginning at 10:00 am followed by a Roman

Catholic Mass at 11:00 am. Donations in his honor can be made to the

Wildwood City Fire Department (www.wildwoodfiredept.com) or the Eagles

Autism Foundation (www.eaglesautismchallenge.org ).Fly, Eagle, fly! 

   Condolences at ingersollgreenwoodfh.com

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