William Collins

Collins, William D. Passed away peacefully Thursday, November 10, 2016 at the age of 89. He was surrounded by family and in the arms of his devoted wife, Carol. He was born March 22, 1927, in White Pine, TN to the late Ira and Rhetta (Pack) Collins. Bill was united in marriage to Carol Maxwell on January 15, 1951 for a loving 65 years together. Bill came from Tennessee as a teenager with aspirations of good employment in Michigan. He worked and completed his high school equivalency, eventually starting work in the Safety Dept. at Kalamazoo State Psychiatric Hospital in the late 40's. Here he met and then married Carol. After the birth of their 2 children he continued to work completing his Bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in 1961. When Bill retired in 1988, he had been employed with Insurance Company of North America/Cigna as Executive Regional Director of Claims for the Midwest for 28 years. He loved playing and watching baseball and golf in his working years and retirement. Bill was thrilled to watch the Cubs win the World Series! Bill is survived by his wife Carol Collins; children, William (Louanne) Collins and Rebecca (Mark) Fraire; 4 grandchildren; Matthew Collins, Mindy Collins, Allison Collins and Emiliano Fraire; 2 great grandchildren, Luca and Cameron; and several nieces and nephews. Bill was the youngest of five children and was preceded in death by his two brothers, Ernest and Glenn and two sisters, Norma and Edna. The family will greet friends on Friday, December 2nd from 10-11 a.m. at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 7028 Oakland Dr., Portage, MI 49024, where a memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Inurnment will be in the Memorial Gardens at the church. Fo1lowing the services, the family would like to invite family and friends to join them for a luncheon at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel in Oshtemo. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill's name may be directed to either, Carol and William Collins Music Therapy Scholarship School of Music, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5434 or Chapel Hill Vocal Student Intern Program, 7028 0akland Dr, Portage, MI 49024. For obituary and condolences, please see Bill's personalized page at www.langelands.com