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BORN
1921
DIED
2014
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BEN COLLINS Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for BEN COLLINS
David Shawver
February 7, 2015
In the latest UTEP magazine, I was saddened to hear of Coach Collins' (and his wife's) death. As a player from 1954-1957, coach was a genuine roll-model for all of us. All players loved and respected him. We are grateful for his influence. I'm now retired, having served as a United Methodist preacher in the Dallas area for nearly 50 years. I pray that the pain of grief will soon change to a wonderful joy for the memories of these two wonderful people. May God bless you and keep you. Grace and Peace.
Sabra Traweek
January 10, 2015
Jack, Billy, and Mary Kay~ Scooter told me about this tragedy. Words fail me but I am so, so very sorry for your loss. May the God of comfort minister to you all. I had kept up with your dad when he was inducted in the Hall of Fame @ WT. What a legacy your parents left, both personally and with their life long love. Sabra
Sally and Larry Souers
December 14, 2014
During this holiday season--a time for reflection, gratitude, and appreciation--Ben and Gene Collins are uppermost in the hearts and minds of so many of us who were blessed to have known them, having been positively influenced by all they represented. Their life-long, rock-solid relationship and role-modeling for their family, friends, and community shall never be forgotten. Let this be a season of celebration for 2 lives so well-lived! May the strength that they always represented be the strength of their family members left to cherish their memories.
Eddie Rosen
December 7, 2014
To the Collins Family, my most sincere condolences. Your father was a big influence in the lives of many, always kind, well-respected, and a teacher of life in the highest degree. While never personally knowing your mother, I can only assume she was cut from the same cloth. The world is a better place because of them.
December 3, 2014
Ben was a first class person. He was totally dedicated to improving the athletic program. When I called for the sports coverage on KELP, he was always ready to answer any and all questions. A great man and very dedicated.
Rister Family
December 1, 2014
To Bill, and Jack, and Mary Kay
The Rister family wants to express our sincerest condolences and feelings of loss and sorrow at the sudden and tragic passing of Ben and Gene. Like so many others, we had many good times with them over the years and will hold those memories among our most cherished. Jeannie recalls so much fun during the Coronado football games and the great house parties afterwards. We all appreciated Ben's capable and very fair-minded refereeing. We fondly remember seasonally searching the woods for the perfect Christmas Trees.
Gene and Ben will be sorely missed, not only by their immediate family, but by their extended family and the community as well. We send all the long-distance support we can to the whole Collins Family.
Jeannie Rister, Terry and Lisa Rister, and Rick and Carla Rister
Judy Smith
November 28, 2014
Dear Billy, Jack, and Mary Kay, I am so sorry to hear about your parents. I hope you will find peace and comfort from the support of all your friends..
Ed Clore
November 28, 2014
Bill, Jack, & Mary Kay,
I'm sure you miss your parents deeply and no words can express the sadness you feel. I treasure the times we shared growing up on Clairemont St here in EP.
They are in the Lord's hands now and are well kept for.
Dotson Lewis
November 27, 2014
Gene & Ben will be forever in my memory. Ben was my friend and mentor and guided me during my change from the Army to College life. They were true All-Americans.
russell Robinson
November 26, 2014
My prayers go out to your family. There are no words that will give you comfort but know my prayers for strength are with you. i have planted a Tree in Israel in their memory Russell Robinson
Barbara Hardie
November 25, 2014
During spring 2012, I loved attending the Met opera with Gene and my mother, Becky Hardie, all of us chauffeured so nicely by Ben, who kept us entertained with his dry wit. I will miss them deeply.
Norma De La Rosa
November 25, 2014
To the Collins Family,
I will always remember Ben Collins. He was my professor at UTEP and I had several classes while working on my Masters in Health and Physical Education. He was and is a great teacher. He and his wife are now enjoying their eternal reward with Our Lord. Thank you Ben Collins for being the wonderful person and teacher who inspired thousands of students at UTEP, My prayers go out to all of the family.
- Norma De La Rosa
November 24, 2014
Memories of shared Christmas mornings help to lessen the sadness of this time. My love and condolences to bill, jack and Mary Kay and families
Virginia brilliant
John Poteet
November 24, 2014
Bill, Jack and Mary Kay:
During this time of great sorrow, be reminded of the thousands of lives that Ben and Gene have touched and influenced positively. Ben was a colleague, a friend, a mentor and a role model. He and Gene were the kindest, gentlest and most humble persons that I have ever known.There are many fond memories of times past. May God strengthen and comfort you and bring you peace...today, and in the days to come.
November 24, 2014
Dear Jack, Mary, and Collins family,
We are so saddened by your great loss. May God give you strength, comfort, and hope as He wraps His arms around you at this time.We are holding you in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.
Dennis and Sharon Sibert
Chris Tonish
November 24, 2014
Jack,
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your parents. Your Dad was a great guy and I enjoyed his class that I took at UTEP. My mother, Roberta worked with Gene at the community college for several years and told me she was very well liked and respected by her students and other teachers. My Mom also very much enjoyed her visits and the eggs she received every week from your parents farm in the Valley. Again, please accept our condolences.
Chris Tonish and
Roberta Tonish
Lynn & Henry Ontiveros
November 23, 2014
Mary Kay, John & family, we shed our tears with yours. It is never easy to lose a parent, we are never prepared. To lose them both at one time is tragic. I just know that God had a plan, we must trust in his wisdom. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Your parents will live forever in your hearts and memories. I pray God will give you the strength you need. Sending you hugs.
Lynn & Henry Ontiveros & family
Libby and Mike Powers
November 23, 2014
Dear Jack, Mary and the Collins Family,
We are sending our deepest sympathy to you at this sad time. Although we never were fortunate enough to meet your folks, Jack, if they raised such a wonderful a son as you, they must have been very special, Godly people. Know that you're all in our thoughts and prayers.
Kathleen Armstrong
November 23, 2014
Dear Mary Kay and John, I had no idea when I greeted you this morning at church about this tragedy. I am so very sorry for your tremendous loss. My heart and prayers go out to you and your family.
Norma Rey
November 23, 2014
My condolences, I am shocked and loss for words.. Ben was a great friend and mentor when I first started at UTEP Athletics. My prayers go out to you. May your parents rest in peace.
Debie Martinez Neuner
November 23, 2014
Dear Mary Kay,
My heart goes out to you and your family. May God wrap you all in his cloak of confort and compassion to help you through this extremely difficult time.
God bless you,
Debie Martinez Neuner
November 23, 2014
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Dylan Odle
JohnPaul Young
November 23, 2014
Very sorry for the loss of your parents. Coach Collins meant a lot to me during my playing days at Texas Western from 1959 -1962. John Paul Young and many of the Abilene guys who played for him.
November 23, 2014
Billy, Jack, and Mary Kay I was shocked and saddened to hear about the loss of your parents. I have wonderful memories of your entire family. May the memories you have of your parents keep their love and joy close to your hearts.
Chula Beall Eslamieh
Tempe, Arizona
Michele Aboud
November 23, 2014
Dear Mary Kay and family, we are so saddened to hear about the loss of your parents. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. May they rest in peace. God Bless You, Love Michele and Dwayne Aboud
Dr. and Mrs Francisco de Rosas
November 22, 2014
WE ARE VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Eric Huntoon
November 22, 2014
Shorewood Senior Campus, a SilverCrest property, expresses our deepest sympathy to Jack and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
November 22, 2014
Jack and family - please know that your brightondale family has you in their thoughts and prayers - Sheila Meyer
Marilyn Martin White
November 22, 2014
Dear Bill, Jack and Mary Kay, My heart is broken too. Your parents were two of the most wonderful people. Other than my own parents, their example of how to live a worthy life of love and faith has been a guide for my own. Too, I think they were my parent's best friends. I know they were at my parent's sides when they needed support and friendship. That means a lot! I loved your parents. All of heaven has welcomed them home.
Karen Leslie Castleman
November 22, 2014
Billy, Mary Kay & Jack...I just read this...& I knew they were You're Mama & Daddy....My heart goes out to Ya'll ....words can not say enough....Blessings to All....
Jim Cravens
November 22, 2014
Ben and Gean were a wonderful couple and a delight to be around. It was fun to talk to them about their travels and stories about Texas Westerm (UTEP). It was a shock to read about their passing. I am saddened by their loss and grateful to have known them.
Jim & Sarah Banks
November 22, 2014
OMG!!! We are totally at a loss for words - Ben & Jean were our good neighbors and friends for many years. Our sincere condolences to the family.
Donald Hardin
November 22, 2014
Don and I were shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic loss of Ben and Gene yesterday. We have fond memories of those long ago days at UTEP and the fun times we had after football and basketball games. We have been in MT for 22 years since retirement but still have ties to El Paso and UTEP....so sorry for your loss.
Don and Shirley Hardin
November 22, 2014
No words can express the deepest sadness
and sorrow for the passing of your dear
parents.
May God give you strength each
and every day.
Sincerely,
Garth Jones
David Galatzan
Kathy Kuehn
November 22, 2014
Jack and Collins Family,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family at the tragic loss. May you find comfort in your memories and know that God is holding you in his mighty hands.
November 21, 2014
Mary Kay, my heart hurts for you and your family. Your parents were so kind and fun loving-I have great memories of those times. I hope that you all can find some comfort in those sweet memories. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
With love,
Karin Brookins Taylor
November 21, 2014
Ben and Gene attended my church, Anthony United Methodist years ago. They were such a wonderful couple. Friendly and humble and very caring. I feel privileged to have known them. They were certainly role models for many of us. God bless and give comfort to their family and friends.
Kay Thurman
Maggie Moses
November 21, 2014
Mary Kay, I was so sorry to hear about this huge loss. I well remember your parents as they worked at the food pantry when I did. (And where you and I still work.) Your dad greeted folks at the front door while your mom worked on the computer. They each had a wonderful sense of humor. What a wonderful couple!
kevin baker and family
November 21, 2014
Billy,Mary Kay,Jack and families, you are in our thoughts and prayers and hearts at this difficult time. WE LOVE YOU.
November 21, 2014
To The Collins Family,
My mother and I attend Trinity First United Methodist Church.
The Collins' were always so friendly and gracious to everyone in the Church. I had been working overseas for many years and recently came home to visit. Mary Gene was the first person to greet me and always remembered me every Sunday that I visited the church. She was so nice and pleasant all the time.
Our hearts are heavy with sadness and words cannot convey the sense of grief your family must feel at this difficult time. God bless you and your family during this devastating loss.
God Bless You
Dave and Sigrid Hutchison
November 21, 2014
Mary Kay I am so very saddened . I pray The Lord holds you tightly. I so enjoyed working with your dear mom at the food pantry. She always insisted speaking spanish to the people who came for help and always invited them to our church.
Charles and Karen Lyon
November 21, 2014
Mary Kay and John,
We were stunned to hear of the tragic circumstances surrounding your parents' deaths. Please know that we as well as all your friends and colleagues are sending prayers your way. We hope that you will find solace in all the wonderful memories you have of your remarkable mom and dad.
Marcus Delgado and Family
November 21, 2014
To Billy and the Collins family, our families condolences and heart goes out to you. We will keep you in our daily prayers.
Jennifer and The Kingsley Shores Family - SilverCrest
November 21, 2014
Jack and family -
There are no words to express our deepest sympathy for the loss of your Mom and Dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Jack.
Jelaine and Keith Workman
November 21, 2014
Bill, Jack and Mary Kay and families - Our hearts hurt with you. We loved your mom and dad so much and I know that they will be missed by all who knew them. We love you!
Esmeralda Laureles
November 21, 2014
I did not know them. But I know Mr. Billy Collins. My condolences goes out to the Collins family. May god be with you and your family Billy. Your parents are in a better place.
November 21, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. I saw your parents at the hall of fame when my Dad inducted about 5 years ago. I had known them forever and they will be missed! Nancy Brumbelow Sisk, Lafayette,CO.
Joyce Whitfield Jaynes
November 21, 2014
Gene and Ben were wonderful friends- we were in the Wedding Band Sunday School Class together at Trinity for years. I held them in high regard, and they will be sorely missed by all of us. With love and sympathy to all the family.
November 21, 2014
As an 18 year old freshman from Las Vegas Nevada back in 1974( Miner Men's Track Team)...I had the honor of being one of Coach Collin's PE students. He was kind, patient and above all a class gentleman! The Leon Smith Sr. family sends our condolences to the Collins family on the loss of a great man and a beautiful mother in Mrs. Collins. May God bless their souls and bring healing to the family.
Amy Hesselgrave
November 21, 2014
Jack and the Collins Family, I'm so sorry about your terrible loss and send my deepest sympathies to all of you.
Art Westberg
November 21, 2014
Jack, My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.I remember when they invited me to have Thanksgiving dinner with you and them when we were in college. They were very kind and nice people.
John E. Garcia
November 21, 2014
Coach Collins was a true gentleman and scholar, who helped many young men become professional leaders in our public schools. We will dearly miss him.
UTEP Fans
November 21, 2014
We were neighbors on Mississippi St. in the early '50s, and he taught my sister how to swim at the TWC pool. Great family, great TWC/UTEP fans!
Diane Denning
November 21, 2014
May God comfort the family during this very difficult time.
Diane Denning
November 21, 2014
God works in mysterious ways and that makes some things very hard to understand. Heaven has greeted two additional Angels yesterday. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family during this very difficult time.
Phil Jordan
November 21, 2014
A sports legend that helped put TW-UTEP on the world of sports who had a wife for all seasons...
David, Dessie, Tami, Shannon and Rheuhama Lipps
November 21, 2014
We are so sorry for your loss. Ben and Gene were incredible people and will be missed greatly.
Garcia
November 21, 2014
Rest in Peace Mr. and Mrs. Collins. You've been together for many, many years and now have left together. May your family, friends be wrapped in prayers and blessings at this time of loss.
Krishna Tingelhoff
November 21, 2014
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. May you find peace during this most difficult time. With deepest sympathy.
Tom Miller
November 21, 2014
I met Ben and Gene at Trinity First and attended Bible study with them. What discussions we had! Truly a great couple!
Patti Hunt Love
November 21, 2014
There are no words really. I am so very sorry. Your parents were so very kind and loving.
November 21, 2014
Mary Kay our hearts are broken. I am so glad I gave you that last hug yesterday. Our thoughts are with you and your family. Our love Rich, Marina, and Alexander
Abby Jones
November 21, 2014
Deepest sympathy - Ben and Gene will be greatly missed at Trinity-First. Gene greeted everyone with a smile and sincere welcomes and was envied for her VERY high heels and participation in marathons.
Louis Duffey
November 21, 2014
Ben and Gene were my sponsors when I joined Trinity-First UMC. I will miss them very much.
November 20, 2014
The Bohling Family sends their deepest sympathy. Our prayers go out to Bill,Jack and Mary Kay.
Brooks Coleman
November 20, 2014
Billy,
I'm so sorry for the loss of your parents.
Jennifer Dyer
November 20, 2014
M.K, Billy, Jack and extended family, you are all in my heart and prayers. Words fail me.
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