William Collins

Collins, William J., life-long resident of Lynn passed away on November 3, 2015. He was 92. Born in Lynn on June 18, 1923, he was the son of the late Richard C. and Mary L. (Hyde) Collins. Bill was raised and educated in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynn Classical High School with the Class of 1941, of which he was class President. In February of 1943, soon after graduating from high school, Bill entered into the U.S. Army to help fight for our country in World War II. He served as a Captain and was honorably discharged on April 15, 1946. Bill married the love of his life, Ethel A. Clayton, on April 30, 1945. The couple spent over 70 years in marriage together raising and caring for their family. After the service, Bill continued his education and attained his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Bentley College in 1951. He also went on to graduate school at Brown University, graduating in 1964. Bill worked for many years with the 1st American Bank for Savings, and held the title of Executive Vice President at the time of his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the Shoemaker Post, President of Wyoma Little League and an avid Red Sox and Patriot’s fan. In his 80’s, Bill learned to cook and became a loving caretaker for his wife, who had become severely disabled.

Bill is survived by his wife, Ethel A. Collins of Lynn, his children, Steven J. Collins and his wife, Jodee (Fenton) of Seattle, WA, William T. Collins and his wife, Kathy (Curtis) of Lynn, and Marsha Collins and her husband, Paul Borgman of Gloucester, and his cousins Claire McCulley, Eleanor Carroll, John and Patricia Scanlon and Mary DeRoo, who are more like siblings to him. Bill is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Funeral from the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home 157 Maple St. LYNN, on Sat. Nov. 7, 2015 at 10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of the Assumption, 17 Grove St. Lynnfield, MA at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lynn. Visitation will be held in the funeral home on Fri. Nov. 6, 2015 from 4 to 8 PM. Contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701.