Obituary of William J. Collins
Princeville - William J. Collins, 87, of Princeville, died at 11:20 p.m. Monday, December 10, 2001 , at Methodist Medical Center , Peoria .
Born December 5, 1914 , in Cedar Rapids , Iowa , the son of William Shirley and Maude Goodfellow Collins, he married Phyllis J. Jackson on December 22, 1943 , in Stark, Illinois . She survives.
Also surviving are 2 sons , William L. (and Bonnie) Collins of Cumming , GA , and Robert D. (and Patsy) Collins of Soldotna , Alaska ; 1 daughter , Sue (and Steve) Race of Chandler, AZ; 8 grandchildren ; and 1 half-brother , William G. Collins of Connecticut . His parents, and one sister, Marilyn Chilibolost preceded him in death.
He was a WWII US Army Veteran, serving in the European Theater as 2nd Lieutenant. He worked for the Atchison , Topeka , & Santa Fe Railroad for over 30 years, starting in baggage and retiring as conductor in 1977. He was a member of the Chillicothe American Legion Post #0009, Chillicothe VFW Post #4999, and the Princeville VFW Post #1255. He was a lifetime member of the United Transportation Union and was a member of the Princeville United Methodist Church.
Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, December 15, 2001 , at Princeville United Methodist Church . Rev. Rex Hendrix will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to funeral service at the church. Burial will be in Wyoming Cemetery , Wyoming , with military rites conducted by Chillicothe American Legion and VFW.
Memorial contributions may be made to his church or Akron/Princeville Ambulance Service.
Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home, Princeville, is in charge of arrangements.
Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home (Joe Hott) 309 385-4414