Sept. 3, 1947 - Oct. 10, 2012

ATHENS, Ga. — William “Bill” Collins Jr., 65, of Athens, formerly of Bristol, Ind., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at Hospice House in Athens, after a courageous six-month battle with cancer.

Bill was born Sept. 3, 1947, in Elkhart, Ind., to William P. Collins Sr. and Virlie M. (Killinger) Collins. He graduated as president of his class in 1965 from Bristol High School. Bill was known for his accomplishments on the trumpet and won several music awards and was requested many times over to play at area military funeral services.

Bill enjoyed NASCAR and was devoted to his two black Labs, Josie and Luke.

On April 23, 1966, he married Martha (Marti) Fisher in Bristol. They became parents to two daughters, Christine and Tricia. They divorced in 1989.

He married Monica Hunsberger on Sept. 7, 1989.

Bill was a member of the Bristol Fire Dept. as a firefighter, EMT and paramedic from 1973 to 1990. He owned and operated B&M Welding in Bristol for several years, before going to work for the town of Bristol in charge of the sewage/water treatment plant. He moved to Georgia in 2001, where he worked at the Athens/Clarke County Water Pollution Control. He retired in September of this year, due to his illness.

Bill is survived by his wife, Monica of Athens; two daughters, Christine Wiles and Tricia Collins, both of Elkhart; his father and stepmother, Bill Sr. and Jean Collins of Watkinsville; and one sister, Beverly (Fred) Harman of Dade City, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Matthew Ryman, Cody Wiles, Kyle Lawrence, Alyssa Lawrence, Corey Lawrence and Keegan Collins, all of Elkhart and Jillian (Mike) Yoder of Milford, Ind.; and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two stepdaughters and a stepson, plus three stepsisters and two stepbrothers.

Bill was preceded in death by his mother and his grandparents.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, at Jamestown United Methodist Church, 59218 C.R. 3 S., Elkhart, with Pastor Paul Rogers officiating.

Memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice of charities.

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