same story here, father died when I was 6. He had about 6 handguns and a few long guns that I remember. mother sold them and gave a few back to the PD he was on.
He was also heavy into ham radio back in the 60's. I will never forget the image of the garbage collection truck coming down the street and picking through all the stuff my mother put at the curb and taking the good stuff and putting it in the cab of the truck. I never let my mother forget any of that.