Guy W Collins

Guy Wendell Collins, age 69, of Huntsville, Alabama passed away on June 24, 2025. Guy was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama and graduated in 1974 from S.R. Butler High School. He went on to earn a B.A. in History from the University of Alabama where he was excited to study abroad in the initial Alabama at Oxford University program. Guy worked as a teacher and coach for over 30 years, a job he once said he loved so much "he couldn't believe he got paid for it." While he enjoyed following all Alabama sports and Cardinals baseball, fishing, hunting, and camping, and loved dogs, his favorite hobby was reading, researching, and talking about history. Guy volunteered with Huntsville Pilgrimage Association, UAH OLLI, LearningQUEST, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Guy coached football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, and powderpuff football during his career, in addition to volunteering to coach his daughter's softball teams. He was proud to be a part of multiple City and State Championship teams. Guy also volunteered to coach a People to People student baseball team. Despite the players having just met each other on the trip, they won the World Championship baseball tournament.
A rare native Huntsvillian, he was extremely proud of his hometown. Guy portrayed John Hunt in the annual Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll and spent countless volunteer hours researching, writing, and teaching history.
Guy was a devoted Christian and served in his church, Willowbrook Baptist, as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He taught the same men's Sunday school class for nearly 40 years. While teaching, he served as the FCA huddle leader at Grissom High School for three decades.
Guy is survived by his wife of 46 years, Deborah Barker Collins; daughters, Laura Collins and Whitney Collins Stemple; son-in-law, Mitchell Stemple; and grandson, Henry Stemple. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin C. Collins and Clara West Collins.
A memorial service will be held at Willowbrook Church on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 12 pm with Reverend Ralph Keel and Reverend Mark Smith officiating. Visitation will begin at 11 am. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honor to Northeast Alabama Fellowship of Christian Athletes, PO Box 14185, Huntsville, AL 35815 or fca.org.
Guy was a loving and devoted husband, father, teacher, coach, and friend. He will be missed for his sense of humor, intense love of learning, and spirit of generosity.