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Colin Brooks Tweddell

Colin Brooks Tweddell

December 9th, 1940 - November 1st, 2020

Biography


On Sunday, November 1, 2020 Colin Brooks Tweddell (Tweed) went home to be with our Lord. He, like the marine he was, fought a three-week battle with two types of pneumonia brought on by complications from COVID-19. He leaves behind his wife, Ruth, his son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Alexis, his daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Richard and four granddaughters which were his pride and joy; Brooke, Lauren, Charlotte and Ivonne.


Colin was a man of honor and deeply loved the Lord. Born in Wuhu China in 1940, he was a child of missionaries, Colin and Gertrude. He entered the marines after graduating from Wheaton Academy. He had a deep and abiding love for our country and was honored to serve. At Colorado University, Colin met the love of his life, Ruth. Together they raised a family while traveling from post to post. While he was stationed in San Diego, he received his masters degree in Computer Science. Colin retired after 20 years of service at the rank of Major and began a second career in national defense with Lockheed Martin. He loved being an engineer and making systems work together. He retired for a second time 25 years later. Unable to stay still, he rejoined the work force at IBM for another 8 years before attempting retirement for a third time in Delaware. Even there he kept himself busy with a part-time job repairing short-wave radios.


Colin was the rock in the family always willing to open his home, including taking in his mother-in-law, Eva, and sister-in-law, Marti. In Delaware, he opened his doors to his grand nephew and niece, Gabriel and Ariel, helping to raise them in his retirement. The Lord led him once again to open his doors to provide a home for Ignition Church. It was often said a revolving door should have been installed for all the people that flowed through the house. Colin taught a mens Bible study, enjoyed gun sportsmanship, and was an avid ham and short wave radio operator. He was a mentor to many, steadfast and unwavering in his desire to do what was right before the Lord.


Colin's legacy lives on, as he will forever be remembered as a Soldier after God's heart.

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Family

About

Name Colin Brooks Tweddell
Date of Birth December 9th, 1940
Date of Death November 1st, 2020
Home Town Wuhu, Anhui, CN 
Other City Newark, DE, US 
Interests Marine Corps, Guns, Camo, Theology, Computer Programming
Favourite Saying "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Cemetery

Memorial

Cemetery Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Milestone

Milestones

1966 Married to Ruth Tweddell, the Love of His Life

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Vicki Tweddell published a tribute .

I began this Dec 9, the day of Tweed's to-be 80th Birthday.

Tweed called Tom and I while he was in the emergency room waiting for the injection of Gamma Globulin. He wished me an early Happy Birthday, early by a week. I felt an uncomfortable premonition. I didn't want to return a early Happy Birthday greeting to him...I wanted to wish him happy birthday on his birthdate, in his home... yet, I did it.
My first memory of Tweed is sitting in his open Jeep with his beloved German Shephard beside him, loving the Colorado mountains, it was 1963 and the occasion of a family visit, the future bride of his older brother, Tom, on our way to Texas with his parents, to visit older sister Gladys and her husband Gordon.
The next meeting he was distracted, it was his wedding to Ruthy. He was so happy..

The 3rd meeting was in their home in Yuma, Arizona, Missy was newborn. I and RuthAnne, age 2 1/2, came for a week to help out with Greg and house while Tweed was on military duty there. It was there I realized little Missy and Greg had a wee cousin on the way. The spirit of competition also showed up one evening during a scrabble game. I've never spelt well so when Tweed added 'vo' to my 'wing', earning 18 points, my dyslexic self questioned his new word. When some how, I ended up wining the game! He muttered, "How can someone so dumb win?" (Aah, the mysteries of life. :)

Our next meeting was 6 or 7 years later, at the front door of my parents home in Altadena, California. Tom and I had just returned from Asia. In Asia greetings are a hand shake, so I extended my hand. He pushed it away saying ," I don't want your hand, I want a hug!" My first reverse culture shock, a very nice one indeed.

Tweed and family had moved to Carlsbad, California during our time in Taiwan and Sarawak, and because of his suggestion, his church in Carlsbad took on our part of support, sight unseen. The Pastor just sent a letter asking if the church could support us! (God's ways are wonderful!) (And Carlsbad Community Church continued to do so for the next 35 years!.) However, as timing goes, just as we arrived, they departed for another military post on the East Coast.
Our paths continued to cross over the next 35 years but only briefly. These last 9 years, not at all due to Tweeds Sensitivity and allergic reactions to chemicals and travel by air.

Tweed and Ruthy have supported us, encouraged us, took our girls in, individually, as a need arose, or just for fun. Tweed even tried to get me up to speed on computer basics. Another time, he trustingly lent his dandy little truck to us to drive up to New England. Always generous.
As brothers, he and Tom shared similar interest in many things, and would chat for hours, so Ruthy and I would go antique shopping. The guys love of Hamming and Genealogy connected them on the phone several times a year encouraging each other. It was always a delight. And one we already miss very much!

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Brooke Tweddell published a tribute .

Colin Brooks Tweddell (aka Grandpa, Tweed, etc.) went to be with the Lord on November 1, 2020 at 2:41pm, after an unexpected two-week battle with double bacterial pneumonia.

He was certainly a man of great honor and incredible love for the Lord. He was a marine veteran, a husband, a father, a grandpa, a friend, a colleague, hard-worker, a teacher, and a child of the Most High God. He loved his freedom, he loved his family, he loved his guns, and he loved his best friend, Jesus Christ. Always with the willingness to lay his life down for his country and his God, Colin was a soldier till the very end, and now he is finally rejoicing victory in heaven with his Savior.

Funeral arrangements have been made for Wednesday, November 18th. While this is an intimate gathering with family and friends, there will be an opportunity to join the celebration virtually at the time of the ceremony. This link and other information can be found on www.tweddellfamily.com. Any other questions on logistical information, please contact Greg Tweddell, Brooke Tweddell or Missy Tannenbaum.

His family appreciates your prayers and support during this time, and are all choosing joy in celebrating the life of a man who left an incredible legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.

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Tom Mealey published a comment .

Man of God.

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Kevin V Fabryka published a comment .

A great man of God. I will miss him as will many others he has helped.

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Michael Honaker published a comment .

I have so many great memories of "Uncle" Tweed and "Aunt" Ruthie (actually my cousin), from when I was a boy and they lived in Bowmar, just South of where we lived. Uncle Tweed, was the first person to introduce me to Star Wars and Indiana Jones (on a Betamax), and he was always so nice to us, and told great stories. He was also a big influence in my choice to go into a technology career. We went swimming so many times at their house and jumped on their trampoline, as kids and they were our favorite family to visit. I love you Aunt Ruthie and I look forward to seeing Uncle Tweed again, when we all get to heaven.

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Paul Collins published a tribute .

Colin (Tweed) more than a brother a closer. You were part of ours lives for more than a half of a century. You blessed us in every way and our children. What a legacy. Precious in the eyes of the Lord is your death to this old world and now you hasten Jesus all the loved ones in heaven God knows only when we go to eternity. Of our group we know not who will be next. Here are wonderful lovely memories. You blessed many and mission works. Thank you for your life wow we will truly miss you Blesdimgs on all of us who remain is this confused world.

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Millie Tannenbaum published a tribute .

Colin was my daughter-in-law’s father. He was always considered an extended family member to me. Colin was my “Words with Friends” buddy and I will miss all the obscure words he came up with that left me scratching my head and the many on-going challenging games we played.
A funny story I want to share is the one when Ruth & Colin were dropping Charlotte and Lauren at my house for a weekend. I invited them to stay for dinner. I thought I would prepare a favorite for the girls which was what we called “chicken with pieces,” basically shake & bake and a rice dish. We sat down for dinner and I noticed that Colin wasn’t eating. Ruth then tells me Colin is allergic to chicken and doesn’t eat mushrooms which were in the rice dish. I was absolutely mortified and so embarrassed because I thought I had prepared a meal everyone would enjoy. Colin pretty much ended up eating the dessert for dinner which Colin and Ruth had so graciously brought with them. Over the years I have told friends this story and we always laugh. Ruth, I hope this story brings a smile to your face and a heartfelt memory.
Colin always had a desire to learn and over the many years I knew him, I was a “go to” for him learning Yiddish words and phrases. I would try to explain the meaning and then he would use it in our conversations - sometimes correctly and other times not so much. We had fun doing this.
Colin, you will be missed - you were a real “mensch.”

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Heather Gibson published a tribute .

Uncle Tweed was the very best kind of uncle to have! His sense of humor, his steadiness, and his love for the people around him made you feel special.
Along with earnest conversations about God, culture, America, and technology, we remember so much laughter with Uncle Tweed. From the time he made us scrambled eggs with chocolate chips in them, to using his portable shortwave radio in a restaurant, to noisy card games, to being saluted as he drove through the gate at the Naval Academy, we experienced joy from getting to be around him.
On a long drive to the range once, he told the story of meeting Aunt Ruth and how she made him feel unconditionally loved from that day forward. He talked about the joy his family brought him Aunt Ruth, Greg, and Missy. And then Alexis and Rich. And of course, each of the grandkids. - We watched a lot of videos of you guys Brooke, Lauren, Charlotte, and Ivonne!
Semper Fi and Deo Gratius, Uncle Tweed! We love you! Craig and Heather Gibson and family

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Steve Tolmie published a tribute .

I am so sorry for your loss. I only new Colin for a short time but really appreciated him as a person who was always willing to help, to listen and to give his input. He is missed. If I can help in any way, please reach out to me.

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