Francis Roland Collins

Francis Roland Collins age 86 went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 23, 2020, surrounded by his loving family in Corpus Christi, where he had lived for 55 years.

Graveside services with military honors, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020 at Restland Cemetery in Gatesville, with Ricky D. Collins, II officiating.

Francis was born on May 29, 1934 in Gatesville, where he grew up and graduated from Gatesville High School in 1952. He attended Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. He served proudly, in both the US Navy and US Air Force. He married his soulmate, Joyce Draper Collins on May 28, 1960 and they were married 53 years until she preceded him in death in 2013.  He worked at ARADMAC later named Corpus Christi Army Depot in Corpus Christi as a Flight Test Mechanic on rotary aircraft, until retiring from there on February 18, 1993. There was not a vehicle built, he could not fix. He kept his family’s vehicles in tip-top shape. All they had to do was hold the flashlight and if you were not doing that right, he would let you know. He was a member of Palmcrest Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and sang in the choir, where he could keep an eye on his kids in the back pew. 

He was an avid Dallas Cowboy and lifelong Texas Longhorn fan, where he was a Lifetime Member of the Longhorn Foundation.  He had a gentle soul and will truly be missed by all who knew him. Francis was a great husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather who always put his family first.

He is also preceded in death by his parents Aubrey and Lillian Bolin Collins and his brother, William David Collins.

Left to cherish his memory are sons, Ricky D. Collins and wife, Shelly of Leakey, Randy L. Collins and wife, Joyce of Leander, Esteen (Rusty) Roland Collins and wife, Yana of Victoria; daughter, Sandra L. Collins and husband, Alan Walker of Comfort; grandchildren, Ricky D. Collins II and wife, Lauren, Kayla C. Collins, Krystal L. Brock and husband, Colby, Holly Hahn and husband, Garrett, Ashley Pesek and spouse, Anna, Ariel Collins, Tristan Collins, Aislin Collins, Jakobi Wilson, Sydney Wilson; great grandchildren, Damian and Denver Hahn, and Silas and Lucas Collins.