William "Bill" Preston Collins, Jr.

William “Bill” Preston Collins, Jr., 95, of Florence, SC, passed away on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at his residence.  He was born in Florence, a son of the late William Preston Collins, Sr. and Ruth Martin Collins.  He is also predeceased by his wife, Hazel McGee Collins, two brothers, Wesley and Richard Collins and one sister, Mary Collins. 

Bill was a member of our nation’s greatest generation having served during WWII in the US Air Force with the 786th Squadron and the 466th Bombardment group.  He retired from South Atlantic Life as an insurance agent.  After his retirement he went on to work for Time Warner Cable for 23 years.  He was a member of First Baptist Church of Florence for over 60 years, where he was an usher.  In August of 2017, he received a plaque in recognition of over 40 years of service with the church.  He was also a former member of the Optimist Club.

Surviving are his son, William “Bill” P. Collins, III (Candi); daughter, Joan Collins Jackson (Rocky); four grandchildren, William “Bill” P. Collins, IV (Christi), Joseph Christopher Collins, John “Rock” B. Jackson (Becky) and William “Will” Forrest Jackson (Jamie); a special friend, Barbara Anderson; and eight great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 PM on Tuesday, September, 18, 2018 at Cain Calcutt Funeral Home.  Graveside services, with military honors, will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 in the Florence Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 300 S Irby St, Florence, SC 29501.

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