Robert Collins

Robert Collins of Albion Illinois, age 77, passed away November 1 of natural causes. He was preceded in death by mother Catherine Shields Collins, father Dewey Doyle Collins, older siblings John Collins and Sandra Turner. He is survived by son and daughter in law Bret and Emelda Collins and daughter Rebecca Thompson, as well as grandchildren Jessica, Lucas and Samantha and eight great grandchildren Angeleus, Anko, Aurora, Alex, Anthony, Ajanae, Anna Maria and Azaria. He will also be leaving behind long time friend, Tom Maupin, who was like a brother and many others. He served his country with honor and the United States Navy during Vietnam and later in the Naval reserves. Robert lived an interesting life, following in his father‘s footsteps into the Masonic Lodge,  earning a masters degree in psychology from the university of California Berkeley and working in many careers from mining, training horses, managing restaurants, being a firearms instructor, managing the Arkansas branch of a security company and many more. He loved riding motorcycles and even served a term as the president of a motorcycle advocacy organization. His other great love was a good meal, never passing up an opportunity to sit down to a steak and lobster or a trip to Saltgrass Steak House. He was a Master Barbecue Judge  for the Kansas City Barbecue Society and judged for the Memphis Barbecue Network as well. He will be missed by friends and family, as well as his two remaining furry grandbabies Tyson and Dexter. Everyone that knew him will remember that when asked how he was doing, he would answer, “ Old, round, ugly and meaner than a cur dog”, but he was really happiest when he could put a smile on your face. While he didn’t suffer fools lightly, he would suffer foolishly himself to help someone he loved. He was cremated and a private funeral service with military honors  Will be held at a later date by family in Lemoore California near the Lemoore Naval air station. It will be streamed live and recorded for future viewing. Time and date will be distributed through family and friends.

Memorial service for Robert Collins will be held at 2:00 PM Pacific Time (4:00 PM Central Time) on Saturday, December 4th,  which would have been his 78th birthday. Pastor Frank Caudell will officiate the service and then the Navy Honor Guard will provide Military Honors and a 21-gun salute.  Navy Blue and Gold balloons will be released at the end. The service will be held at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Lemoore, California.  The Zoom invite will open a virtual waiting room 30 minutes before and we will begin streaming the actual Memorial Service just before 2:00 PM Pacific Time. We are also going to record the Memorial and offer the link to view it later for anyone that could not attend live.  Please find Zoom link information below:

Bret Collins is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Robert Collins Memorial Service

Time: Dec 4, 2021, 01:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81272326918

Meeting ID: 812 7232 6918

Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home.  Online guestbook:  www.SmithFamilyCares.com.