Kenneth S. Collinge

Kenneth S. Collinge, age 89,  of Trumbull, CT, beloved husband of Virginia Kohl Collinge (deceased) entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. Kenneth was born in Passaic NJ to the late Ambrose and Edna (Reineke) Collinge, and raised in Rock Hill, SC.  He received his undergraduate engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and considered himself a lifelong rambling wreck and one hell of an engineer.  He later received a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport. Ken loved life, loved the family he raised, and loved the family of co-workers from his career with Avco / Textron Lycoming in Stratford CT.  

Ken was a life-long engineer, aviation enthusiast, and Yankee fan. He was an avid photographer and known to always have at least one camera ready to go for any photo opportunity.  Ken also loved the outdoors, often taking his family on camping trips visiting National Parks across our country.  Ken and his wife “Ginny” enjoyed spending time trailer camping with family in the Bar Harbor region on the coast of Maine.  While not a pilot, Ken loved attending various aviation air shows in the New England region, and was a docent for the National Helicopter Association and the Connecticut Air and Space Center, as well as a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).  Ken was also an active member for many years of the Nichols United Methodist Church.

Ken grew up on a farm in South Carolina with his parents and two siblings, Robert and Phyllis Collinge. After graduating from Georgia Tech in 1955 and marrying his beloved wife, Ken served two years in the Army before moving to southern CT.  He worked 2 years with Sikorsky Aircraft before joining Avco Lycoming in Stratford.  There Ken lead the engineering Electronics and Instrumentation group among many other positions before becoming a Designated Engineering Representative (DER) for the FAA. Following his retirement after nearly 35 years from Avco, Ken continued working as a consultant FAA DER.

Ken is survived by his four children; son Charles Collinge of Ansonia, son Scott Collinge and his wife Mary of Chandler AZ, daughter Bonnie Rankin and her husband Ken of Johns Creek GA, son Mark Collinge and his wife Lisa of Danbury CT; his sister Phyllis Bowden, twelve grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. at Nichols United Methodist Church, Shelton Rd., Trumbull, CT. Memorial contributions may be made to Spina Bifida at 1600 Wilson Blvd Suite 800 Arlington, VA 22209 or online at https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/. OR to Juvenile Diabetes at www.jdrf.org

Arrangements in care of the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, Trumbull, CT. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.mullinsfh.com.

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