Collon Edward Snell passed away on November 4, 2026, in Greenville, NC, at the age of 89. Born on July 16, 1937, Collon lived a full and fulfilling life, enjoying his farm after retirement where he kept a vegetable garden (stocking his freezer with way too much food!). He also loved observing the local wildlife that shared the land with him, watching bears, foxes, deer, bobcats, herons, eagles, ospreys, among others.

Upon graduating high school in 1955, Collon enlisted in the Coast Guard, and became a damage controlman. He served in the Coast Guard for four years and then went on to the reserves, serving another 30 years where his final rank was as a Warrant Office. While in the regular Coast Guard, he traveled to post-WWII Europe, visiting England, Spain, France, Denmark and the Netherlands, to name a few. Of his time there, he commented, “They told me I would guard the Coast – they just didn’t tell me which coast!” Later in the reserves, he spent his two-week active service in the summers, teaching on the USCGC EAGLE, a ship used as a training vessel for future officers of the Coast Guard. He also taught at Governors Island in New York Harbor that offered schools and operational support for the Atlantic area.

For most of his civilian career, Collon was a maintenance supervisor at various school systems, starting in his home county of Tyrrell, where he worked in the 1960s. From there he moved to Wilson County School Systems (1970s) and eventually to Craven County Schools, from which he retired in the 1980s. He was dedicated to learning all he could to effectively keep the schools in top shape, earning certifications as an electrician (with an unlimited license), plumbing, HVAC, and home inspection, among others. In addition, he was a strong supporter of the school maintenance community, serving as the president of the North Carolina School Maintenance Association in the 1970s.

In his personal life, Collon enjoyed playing Parcheesi and Rook. He also enjoyed attending games at East Carolina University, where he cheered the Pirates on, “Go, aargh, Pirates!” He was a longtime member of the former Columbia Christian Church and later returned to his childhood church, Sound Side Missionary Baptist Church.

Collon was predeceased by his first wife, Lenora, and through that marriage, is survived by his daughter, Barbara Krebs (Mitch) and son, Edward Christopher Snell. There is one granddaughter. From his second marriage to Helen Hassell, who also predeceased him, he has one step-daughter, Laura Barnes (Gerald), two grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Celebration of life will be on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Bryan Funeral Service in Columbia, NC. Burial will follow in the Maitland Family Cemetery.

Friends may visit with the family on Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 and other times at the Snell residence.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Collon’s memory can be made to East Carolina University https://give.ecu.edu/campaigns/81492/donations/new

Arrangements are by Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia.