Collins Rice Obituary
Collins Rice, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and proud West Texan, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at the age of 71. Born on January 7, 1954, in Odessa, Texas, Collins lived a life rooted in love, loyalty, and quiet service to others.
He was the son of Rebecca Madlyn Rice and Clyde Charleston Rice and a lifelong resident of the Permian Basin. A graduate of Permian High School, Class of 1972, Collins married his high school sweetheart, Cecilia Cooper Rice, in 1974, beginning a marriage that spanned more than 50 years and brought immeasurable joy to their family.
Collins dedicated over 30 years of his professional life to Ignition Systems & Controls, where he was respected for his work ethic, steady leadership, and heart for mentoring others. His legacy of dependability and kindness lives on in the lives of those he worked with and served.
Collins is survived by his wife, Cecilia Cooper Rice; daughter, Chelsea Madlyn Rice of Odessa; and son, Clint Charleston Rice of Lubbock, Texas, along with Clint’s wife, Tiffany Newsom Rice. He was a proud and loving Pops to Cambri and Crawford Rice. Collins is also survived by his brother, Sam Rice and sisters in law Jan, Linda, Mary Jo and will be deeply missed by a wide circle of extended family and close friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Ronnie, Charles, Wayne, Dan and Nancy.
Collins played football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders where Cecilia also attended. They love cheering them on in every season and he wore red and black with pride. He was also proud of his native American heritage and is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.
Those who knew Collins will remember his calm presence, his dry sense of humor, his unwavering love for his family, and the example of quiet integrity he set throughout his life.
Services will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa.
• Visitation: Tuesday, June 24, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Service: Wednesday, June 25, at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Collins’s memory to the American Heart Association.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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