William Ray Collins, Sr., was born on December 2, 1922 to Francis Cooper Collins and Minnie Custer in Southland, Texas and grew up in Patricia, Texas. He passed away on January 11, 2015 at the age of 92. Graveside services will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Resthaven Memorial Park.“Ray” was married to Virginia “Ginnny” Leigh Stewart for 67 years. Ginny preceded her husband in death by only five weeks. The family rejoices that they are once again together.After attending Draughn’s Business College in Midland, he worked for Continental Oil Company (later ConocoPhillips) for 35 years from 1948-1983 as a field clerk, district administrative coordinator and a budget analyst. During those 35 years, he officed in Monument, New Mexico, the oil field community of Todd Field, Ozona, Pecos, Odessa, and Midland. He and his wife and three children settled in Midland in 1967.While in Ozona, Texas, he was a hospital board member of Crocket County, a member of Lions Club International and was awarded the outstanding service award.He joined the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942 shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was stationed in Texas, Illinois, and California. The B-17 aircraft was in his care for the duration. He was honorably discharged in February 1946.Ray faithfully volunteered at the Commemorative Air Force Museum for 16 years starting in 1990, where he did everything from changing light bulbs to building exhibits. He loved to take his grandchildren to the museum on a regular basis and took joy in teaching them about airplanes. He received numerous awards for his volunteer efforts.His favorite place on this earth was the Colorado Rocky Mountains where he took his family on summer vacations for many years. He and Ginny eventually bought a piece of those mountains, elevation 8,000 feet, adjacent to the Rio Grande National Forrest, south of Salida, Colorado. With their own sweat and with much love, they designed and built a home where they took respite from the Texas heat each summer for 25 years. Friends and family often visited this place they named Pineridge and he loved to take his guests on bumpy back road trails in his Jeep to share his love of nature. He was a skilled craftsman and woodworker. He generously shared the many things he made in his shop with friends and family who still treasure his beautiful creations.Ray is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and brother, Lee Collins, and sister, Beulah Hagar.He is survived by his oldest daughter, Linda Frantz, and husband, Fred, and their children, Mike, Dwayne, Cynthia Brooks, and husband, Chris, and Jonathan; his only son, William “Bill” Ray Collins, Jr. and wife, Vickie, and their children, Daniel and Amanda; youngest daughter, Suzanne Thomas and her son, Justin, all of Midland; and a sister, Lucille Brown of Odessa. He is also survived by four great grandchildren: Ashlynn, Brayden and Caelynn Brooks, and Brittany Frantz, all of Midland; and many nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to CAF Airpower Museum, P.O. Box 62000, Midland, TX 79711.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com,
