William Edward (Ed) McCollum Retired Captain USMC

William Edward (Ed) McCollum, Retired Captain USMC, 88, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at his home in Robbinsville, NC with his family by his side. Ed was born November 30, 1936, in Wayne County, GA to Troy and Lettus (Griffin) McCollum. He grew up on his family’s farm with his two sisters, Ann and Betty before the family relocated to Jesup. He enjoyed educational pursuits and played on the Wayne County High Basketball team. He graduated from Golden Gate University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Management.

Ed proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corp 32 years until his retirement on May 31, 1988. During the majority of his military service, he worked as an Air Traffic Controller (ATC). He also spent time as a Flight Navigator.

His love of being a Marine began at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot - Parris Island in Beaufort, SC. After training, he was stationed at many Marine and Naval bases, often on the east coast; and three tours of duty for a total of eight years in Iwakuni, Japan. He completed his circuit back at Beaufort, SC.

A man with high energy and intelligence, he could not stay still (or retired) for long. He owned and managed a Sears Catalog store in Jesup, GA for 4 years, provided bookkeeping services to small businesses, taught accounting and math for the technical college in Jesup, GA and after his move to Robbinsville, NC in 2004, he worked as a tax preparer with H&R Block, and finally with Hometown Tax & Accounting Services.

He was also a very active member of the Masonic Lodge #672 in Robbinsville, NC and a member of the Robbinsville Oasis Shrine Club, as well as the Franklin Chapter 95 Royal Arch Masons, Doric Council 20 Royal & Select Master, and Waynesville Commandery 69 Knight Templar and the Robbinsville Chapter No. 224 Order of the Eastern Star.

Ed was predeceased by his parents Lettus and Troy McCollum, his sister Ann McCollum Dent, and his daughter Jessica Nan McCollum. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patty Ditmore McCollum, his sister Betty McCollum Salter, his daughter Angel McCollum and sons Jeff McCollum and Steve Hyde (Rhonda). He was a beloved grandpa to his grandchildren Jeremy (Jessica), Cory (Angelina), Tyler, Logan (Riley), Cody, and George (Hannah), Dakota, Marla, and Riley. He was blessed with several great-grandchildren: Vada, Kiley, Brody, Isla, Annabelle, Hagan, Oliver, Isla, and Braxton. He was anticipating the birth of his first great, great grandchild, Easton, In February 2025. Enjoying times with their blended families, Ed and Patty remained friends over the years with Carolyn Herndon Comer, mother of Angel, Jeff, and Jessica Nan.

Funeral services for William Edward (Ed) McCollum, Retired Captain USMC, will be held at the Townson-Smith Funeral home in Robbinsville, NC on Saturday morning, December 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM and will include Masonic Rites conducted by the Robbinsville Masonic Lodge # 672. The Family will receive friends from 10 AM till 11 AM prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Oasis Shrine Club in Robbinsville, NC.

Townson-Smith Funeral Home is honored to be serving the McCollum family.