Bill Collins, aged 82, passed away on January 11, 2021 in San Antonio, TX. Bill was born to Jimmie and Beulah Collins on October 17, 1938. He was raised on his family’s ranch in Fort Towson, Oklahoma, where from a young age, he worked alongside his father and his older brother, Jimmie Ray. He had a special relationship with his mother who inspired him to work towards a college degree. After he graduated from Fort Towson High School in 1956, he attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University where, in 1959, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree. After graduation, he chose to follow in the footsteps of his older sister, Mary Jo, and relocate to West Texas to pursue a career in elementary education. In 1962, while teaching sixth grade at Hays Elementary in Odessa, TX, Bill met Mary Nell Wiman, his future wife. In 1964, they were married in Roscoe, Texas. In 1965, they enrolled at Sul Ross University and in 1966, their daughter, Carol, was born. Bill and Mary Nell graduated with Master’s Degrees in Elementary Counseling in 1968. Bill was a gifted teacher and used his passion for teaching to connect in an authentic way with his students and their families. In 1972, their second daughter, Christy, was born. During this time, Bill and Mary Nell attended a prayer group on Tuesdays where they developed many lifelong friendships. In 1977, Bill and Mary Nell opened their home on Friday nights to close friends where they spent time in prayer and worship. In 1978, their youngest daughter, Carmen, was born. In 1993, after Bill retired from his teaching career, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, daughters and their families to Hawaii, Alaska and Mexico. He cherished his time being a Pappaw and loved spending time with his grandchildren, making crafts and helping them with their schoolwork. Bill was preceded in death by his father, Jimmie Collins and mother, Beulah (Maddux) Collins, his older sister, Mary Jo Schultz and his older brother, Jimmie Ray Collins. He is survived by his wife, Mary Nell (Wiman) Collins, his three daughters, Carol Whitley (Jeff), Christy Rule (Kevin) and Carmen Campbell (Chris). He is survived by ten grandchildren, Carol’s children- Hayley, Nathan, Abbey and Chloe Whitley, Christy’s children- Logan, Owen and Josie Rule and Carmen’s children- Ian and Devin Collins and Landon and Lauren Campbell. He is survived by two great grandchildren, Abbey Whitley’s children- Oliver and Clover Whitley. The family will have a private celebration of life.