William Thomas Collins (LTC, Retired, USANG), 77, of Waterbury,
passed away in the comfort of his home and family on Tuesday, March 16,
2010. Born in Burlington on December 11, 1932, Bill was the son of the
late William E. and Pabora Lula (Anair) Collins. On November 27, 1954,
he married the former Claudette Slayton in Richmond, VT.
Bill was a 1950 graduate of Waterbury High School and continued his
education at Norwich University, graduating in 1954. Following his
military service with the U.S. Army, Bill joined the Vermont Army
National Guard and was based at Camp Johnson in Colchester. A 22-year
career included management in the Cannon Field Artillery Office,
Personnel Staff Office, and the Supply and Service Management Office,
retiring in 1984 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Bill and Claudette sought warmer climates following his retirement
making their home in Ramrod Key, FL, from 1986 to 1995 and then moved to
a more northern home in Ocala. In 2004, wanting to be closer to their
family, they returned to Waterbury. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Bill
took great pleasure in watching two generations of his family play in a
variety of school and adult league athletic contests. A proud Norwich
alumnus, Bill enjoyed everything NU, especially hockey.
His memberships included St. Andrew Catholic Church, the Father Galligan
Council #2085, Knights of Columbus, the Waterbury Rotary Club and the
Harry N. Cutting American Legion Post 59 where he spearheaded the Post
59 American Legion baseball team for many years.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Claudette Collins;
their children, Deborah Ann Collins of Burlington, Mari Collins Price of
Middlebury, William T. Collins and his wife Jayne of Waterbury, Kevin
Collins and his wife Tina of Waitsfield, Scott Collins and his wife Lori
of Waterbury, and Chris Collins and his wife Wendy of Brandon, FL; 14
grandchildren, Desiree, Jeswyn, Kevin, Michael, Codi, Tanner, Cassandra,
Krysta, Riley, Andrew, Christian, Damian, Casey and Brooke; a
great-granddaughter, Ayden Deville Parrish; two sisters, Emily
Ternavasio of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Patricia Russell of Rutland; two
sisters-in-law, Faye Collins of St. Augustine, FL, and Claudine Spencer
of Plainfield, NH; nieces and nephews; and his beloved dachshunds,
"Diablo" and "Colby." His brother, Ferdinand M. A. Collins, predeceased
him.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Andrew Catholic
Church in Waterbury on March 27, 2010, at 10 a.m. Friends may call at
the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on March 26 from 7 to 9
p.m. Inurnment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Duxbury. For
those who wish, memorial gifts in lieu of flowers would be appreciated
to the Norwich University Nursing Department - Development Office, C/O
Kristin Dodge, 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663. To send online
condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
