Harold Winston Collins

Harold Winston Collins, 82, passed peacefully into eternal life on Sunday, February 17, 2019. He resided at A Golden Age Assisted Living home in San Antonio, Texas, where he was well taken care of by Daniela Butuza and her wonderful staff these past few years.

Harold was born on September 10, 1936, in Coden, Alabama to Genevieve and Perry Collins. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Harvey and Donald Collins, and he is survived by his brother Edgar “Connie” Collins and his sister Jo Ann Bolton.

He was married to Barbara Barnard Collins for twenty-one years, and they have seven children: Debbie Collins, Geri Davis (Paul), Beverly Wade (James), Cheri Cross, Patty Kieffer, Harold Winston “Buddy” Collins, Jr., and Annette Decker (Bill). He also has eight grandchildren: Jessica Collins, Thomas Maldonado, Julian Davis, Ethan Wade, Justin Cross, Sophia Kieffer, Christopher Kieffer, Brandi Scannell and one great grandson, Dominic Scannell.

Harold grew up on Mon Luis Island in Alabama, where he attended school and church at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and schoolhouse. He raised his family in San Antonio, Texas, where he worked at Kelly AFB and Randolph AFB. He did five tours in Vietnam where he was honored with several Meritorious Service awards and retired from Federal Civil Service in 1991.

He retired to Rockport, Texas, where he enjoyed being near the water. He loved fishing, being on the beach, Texas BBQ, country music and socializing with family and good friends.

His memorial service will be held Sunday, March 3, 2019, at St. Vincent De Paul Church, 4222 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas 78227. There will be a rosary at 4:30 pm and a memorial mass at 5:00 pm, followed by a reception at 6:00 pm in the Parish Center, with a BBQ dinner. A memorial service in Alabama, where his ashes will be buried, will be scheduled later in the year. Details for the Alabama memorial service will be provided at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mon Luis Schoolhouse Renovation Project in Coden, Alabama. Checks in his honor are payable to Mon Luis Schoolhouse, 12470 Old Cedar Point Road, Coden, Alabama, 36523.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.