TITLE:  William J. Collins, Obituary,  April 5, 2001

SUBMITTERS:  Journal Inquirer
             Manchester,CT (issue Apr 11, 2001)

FORMATTED:   ABishop, Apr 2001

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William J. Collins

William J. Collins, 79, of South Windsor, beloved husband of Alice (Trudeau) Collins, died
Thursday, April 5, 2001, at home.
Born in Bridgeport on Oct. 5, 1921, son of the late William and Katherine (Sullivan) 
Collins, he had lived in South Windsor for the last 34 years. Mr. Collins received a 
bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Bridgeport Engineering Institute.
Mr. Collins was a veteran of World War II as a torpedo bomber pilot in the U.S. Navy Air 
Corps Torpedo Squadron Nine. He was stationed on the USS Yorktown and the USS Lexington. 
His skill as an aviator earned him four Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross. He 
piloted one of the six torpedo bombers that sank the Yamato, the largest battleship ever 
built. For this he received the Navy Cross. After World War II, he was a tool and die maker
for the General Electric Co. in Bridgeport. Later, he served as New England Regional 
District Manager from Kennametal Inc. Before retiring he was vice president and sales 
manager of Viking Tool for more than 20 years. He was a parishioner of St. Margaret Mary 
Church, South Windsor, and enjoyed reading and golfing.
Besides his wife, he leaves three sons and daughters-in-law, Keith and Patricia Collins 
of Centreville, Va., John and Kit Collins of Portland, Ore., and William and Margaret 
Collins of Grafton, Mass.; two daughters and a son-in-law, Deborah Perrica of Manchester, 
and Lisa and Brian Rizor of Manchester; two brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Gloria 
Collins of North Carolina, and Robert and Margaret Collins of Virginia; a sister-in-law, 
Doris Collins in Washington, Conn.; 12 grandchildren, Aura, Xenia, Matthew, Devin, Nathan,
Jay, Alyssa, Brian, Noah, William, Ian, and Caleb; and several nieces and nephews. He was 
predeceased by a brother, Edward Collins.
Family and friends may gather at 9:15 a.m. Monday, April 9, at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral
Home, 419 Buckland Road, South Windsor, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. 
at St. Margaret Mary Church. Burial will be in Wapping Cemetery, South Windsor, with 
military honors.
His family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Genesis Center, 234 Center St., Manchester, CT 06040.



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