Ray Timothy Collins

Ray Timothy Collins, 79, passed away on March, 28, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Born on April 10, 1946, in Hampton, Virginia, Ray was a beloved father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, partner, and friend whose life was defined by service, curiosity, and deep devotion to those he loved.

Growing up near the water, Ray developed a lifelong love of boating and water skiing. He formed deep, enduring friendships, including a close-knit group affectionately known as “The Dirty Half Dozen”. Ray’s strong sense of values was shaped early by his family, who owned a downtown drug store with a lunch counter. During a turbulent time in the civil rights movement, their store became one of the first in the area to host a sit-in. Guided by their shared beliefs Ray and his parents chose to serve everyone.

Later Ray answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S Army; serving in the Vietnam conflict from January 1969 to August 1970. He was assigned to fire support bases, artillery installations that directly supported front-line soldiers and were frequently targeted by enemy attacks. Unfortunately, his time in Vietnam exposed him to Agent Orange, which later caused lung cancer and other significant health issues. Ray battled all of this with positivity, courage and resilience, never giving up his zest for life.

A graduate of the University of Richmond with a degree in Accounting, Ray began his career at the IRS before finding his professional home at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). There, he built a deeply rewarding and impactful career spanning 33 years, marked by dedication, integrity, and service, before retiring in 2005. While at PBGC, Ray combined his passion for finance with a deep commitment to helping others, ensuring countless professionals received the pensions they had earned—work he was immensely proud of and honored to do. That same dedication carried into his retirement, where he devoted himself to coaching and supporting veterans as they navigated the process of securing the benefits they had rightfully earned.

Ray had a deep passion for travel and embraced every opportunity to explore the world with family and many circles of friends. Through these journeys, he created countless lasting memories—especially those shared with his partner, Fred—that reflected his joy for connection, discovery, and life well lived. Whether biking through P Town, horseback riding in Costa Rica, or taking a Viking Cruise, Ray embraced an active lifestyle, natural leadership, and a deep curiosity for new cultures and history.

In addition to his adventurous spirit, Ray was deeply devoted to his family. He treasured every opportunity to spend time with his children Cynthia Zuniga and Chris Collins and his four grandchildren, Maddox Zuniga, Sebastian Zuniga, Wiley Collins and Frances Collins. He loved to be involved and attend as many of their activities as possible, whether it was a lacrosse tournament, wrestling match, soccer game, basketball game or dance recital. He found immense joy in spoiling his family, in particular his grandchildren, and was always very generous.

Ray is survived by his two children and their spouses Cynthia Zuniga (Roger), Chris Collins (McKenzie); four grandchildren, Maddox, Sebastian, Wiley and Frances; former wife and mother of their children Alice Collins; and his brother Ralph Collins (Jan). He is also survived by his niece, Linda Coffey, niece-in-law Jaqueline Collins, and their children, all of whom he cherished spending time with.

Ray was preceded in death by his mother and father, Clyde and Evenly Collins, nephew Lee Collins and his beloved partner, Fred Peck.

Ray Collins will be remembered for his zest for life, love for his family and friends, passion for travel, and being an encyclopedia of knowledge. He will be deeply and forever missed by all who knew and loved him.

Ray had a passion for encouraging education goals of young adults, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Broward Education Foundation by clicking on the link below.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 9:30 - 11:00 at the KRAEER - FAIRCHILD FUNERAL HOME, 4061 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Burial will follow in South Florida National Cemetery with Military Honors conferred by the United States Army.

It can be a great comfort to a grieving person or family to hear that others thought highly of their loved one, too. If you knew and admired Ray be, sure to let the family know by writing a few words in the "Memory" section of his obituary on the Kraeer - Fairchild Funeral Home website. www.KraeerFairchild.com.