John Collins

John Collins “Junior”, 81, surrounded by his family was welcomed into the arms of the Lord on April 9, 2017. John was born in Spurlock, Kentucky on August 26, 1935 to John Collins and Tillie Marie Williams.

John grew up in Butler County, Ohio and attended Stewart high school in Oxford,Ohio. He moved to Arizona in 1957 and began working at Master plating as a supervisor. After a short time he met Bob Wilkinson and they started Collins Metal Finishing in 1968 with a $2,000 investment. He grew the company, and his sons worked for him over many years. Collins Metal Finishing survives today co-managed by his older son Mike.

John was described by his friends as a natural born leader and always willing to help when called upon. He is a believer in Christ and was baptized later in life. He was a member of Monte Vista Baptist Church. He enjoyed meeting with a small group of men from his church for lunch. He was also a very strong supporter for military veterans.

His interests included family and friends, baseball, basketball, softball and horseshoes earning many awards. He coached for over twenty years at different levels of baseball through the years, Little League, Pony League and American Legion. He always considered the players of his teams his own. His Pony league team in 1970, 1974 and 1977 won the state championship and continued on to the Western Regionals and he often took teams to Mexico to compete. His favorite place in this world was his cabin in Heber, Arizona where he loved to get together with family and friends, walk his cherished dogs and play a mean game of Gin Rummy. He enjoyed traveling with his wife to locations abroad and across the United States where they visited historical locations. John enjoyed reading and learning about our Nation's great history, and could recite all of the Presidents and many significant events in our Nation's history up to his passing. He had great skill in debating with his family and he usually won (lol).

John is survived by his Sisters Marie Newman, Verna Mae Azbill, Clara Sue Gonzales, brother Russell Collins, and his children who adored him; Mike (Terry), John (Juanita), Tommy (Lori), Jim (Trisha); daughters, Barbara (Mark), Pam (Fred), Lori, stepsons Tommy (Stacey) and Ricky; twenty adoring Grandchildren and fifteen Great Grandchildren. He is predeceased by his loving wife Linda, Parents, John Collins, and Tillie Nolan-Williams, Brothers, SSG Billy Jean Collins, Roger “David” Williams and Sister, Joyce McCullough.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary, Phoenix, AZ.