William D. “Bill” Collins, 82, rural Piqua, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, at Allen County Regional Hospital in Iola.
Bill was born Aug. 18, 1931, at rural Piqua, the son of John “Mike” and Lucy Elizabeth (Wilson) Collins. He grew up on the Collins farm south of Piqua and served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954.
On Feb. 7, 1953, Bill married Mary L. “Babe” Specht at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua. They have always made their home and farmed in Piqua.
Bill was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus at Piqua. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.
Survivors are his wife of 60 years, Mary L. “Babe” Collins; five children, Judy Ann Johnson and husband, Dave, Buffalo Lake, Robert D. Collins and wife, Dixie, Piqua, Tim Collins and wife, Dina, Augusta, Carol Ann Mayfield and husband, Monte, Derby, and Betty Jo Cantrell and husband, Shawn, Fredonia; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; three brothers, David Collins, Yates Center, Ike Collins and Glen Collins and wife, Connie all of Piqua; one sister, Martha Cook, Yates Center.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Donna Eisenbart and Marcella Dixon.
Parish rosary will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua prior to Mass.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, following the rosary at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua.
Burial will be at St. Martin’s Cemetery, Piqua.
Memorials are suggested to Friends for Life at Yates Center and may be left with Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements.
You may sign the guestbook online at www.iolafuneral.com.
Bill Collins
