COLLINS RICHARD F

CW4 Richard "Dick" F. Collins was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 07/03/2013 at the age of 80.4
Daleville, AL
Flight Class 57-11
Date of Birth 02/22/1933
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 8 TC CO in 62-63, C/228 ASHB 1 CAV in 67-68
Call signs in Vietnam MANHUNTER, COWBOY
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: CW4 (Ret) Richard F. Collins, 80, of Clayhatchee, AL, passed away on July 3, 2013 in Defuniak Springs, FL. He was born February 22, 1933 in Pelican, LA, the son of Allen Thomas Collins and Mary (Genert) Miller.

Richard graduated from Mobile County High School in Grand Bay, AL in 1952 and joined the United States Army serving in the 82nd Airborne Division. He later attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and Flight School where he was the Honor Graduate. He was a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot and served in a variety of assignments including Germany, Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded several citations including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Richard married his wife, Barbara Manning, in June 1955 and they celebrated 58 years of marriage this year. Richard was a faithful member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Level Plains and a proud member of the Wiregrass Camp of the Gideon's International.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, July 7, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Level Plains with Rev. Mike Foreman officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Searcy Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 4 to 6 PM. Flowers will be accepted or donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Level Plains Building Fund, the Gideon's International or your favorite charity.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Evelyn, Dorothy and Doris and a brother, Willard. Survivors include his wife, Barbara (Manning) Collins, Clayhatchee, AL; his sons, Richard Collins Jr.(Patricia), Decatur, AL, Bruce Collins (Lucy), Clayhatchee, AL; six grandchildren, Jared Collins(Julia), Caitlin Collins, Ryan Collins, Jon Collins (fiancAc Jessica Baxley), Anna Collins Calderon (Juan), and Hayley Collins; one brother, Cecil Miller of Fairhope, AL and many nieces and nephews.

You may sign the register book or send condolences to the family at our website: www.searcyfuneralhome.com

Published in the The Mobile Press-Register from July 5 to July 7, 2013

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters

Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list

Return to VHPA web site

Date posted on this site: 10/23/2024