DODGE CITY – Billy Collins, 75, died Monday, Jan. 28, at his home in Dodge City.  He was born Jan. 24, 1938 at Welfare Island, New York.  On Oct. 10, 1944 he was adopted by Anthony and Delia Dunnigan Collins.  A Dodge City resident since 1988, moving from Ellinwood, he was a truck driver for Chaffin, Inc. in Dodge City, retiring in 2002.  He served in the United States Air Force.
On November 23, 1957 he married Patricia Hammersmith in Topeka.  They later divorced.  On June 16, 1995 he married Linda Williams in Dodge City.  She survives.
He was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a lifetime member of ABATE both in Dodge City as well being a ham radio operator. He also loved riding and tinkering on motorcycles and was a motorcycle instructor.
Other survivors include: three sons, William “Bill” Collins, Burlington, N.C., Roger Collins, Garden City and Steven McFarling, Grand Coulee, Wash.; four daughters, Kelly Baker, Ellinwood, Tracy Menges and husband Mark, Ellinwood, Patty Collins, Great Bend and Stacey Stults and husband Steve, Hays; a sister, Delores McGann, Delaware; 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, and his two dogs Maxi and Annie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Mary Murphy and Ann Gentile and a brother, Mickey Collins, and daughter-in-law Verna Collins.
A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday Jan. 30.  Funeral Mass will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday Jan. 31, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City, with Fr. Ted A. Skalsky presiding.  Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Ziegler Funeral Chapel.  Burial will be in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City.
Memorials are suggested to the Ford County Humane Society in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas  67801.  Condolences may be sent to www.zieglerfuneralchapel.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Ziegler Funeral Chapel*
1901 N. 14th Ave.
Dodge City, Kansas  67801
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 29, 2013