William Robert “Bill” Collins, 92, of Huntsville passed away Friday. Bill was born in Myrtle, MS, the only child of Grady and Ruby Collins. He graduated from Myrtle High School and the University of Mississippi. Bill served his country for four years in the U.S. Navy, two of those on the USS Frontier AD25.
Bill began his banking career in 1955 with Union Planters Bank in Memphis, TN. In 1965, he moved to Decatur with State National Bank of Alabama (which later became Compass Bank). In 1973, he relocated to Huntsville as president of Compass Bank and later joined the Bank of Huntsville (which was purchased by Colonial Bank). He retired as Vice President and COO of Union Planters Bank.
Bill was a former two-term president of both the Decatur and Huntsville Chambers of Commerce, served on the Huntsville Utility Board, Chairman of the Independent Bankers Associate of Alabama, the State of Alabama Banking Board and was a member of the Rotary Club. He was a two-term chairman of the Tennessee Valley Boy Scouts Council with over 30 years of service to the Boy Scouts.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Joy Lee Collins. He is survived by their daughter, Dianne Collins Tallent (Eric); son, William Robert “Bill” Collins, Jr. (Michele); grandchildren, William Eric Tallent (Alice), Richard William Collins, and Rachel Fay Collins.
Visitation will be 12:00 – 1:00 pm Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home followed by a graveside service at 1:30 pm in Maple Hill Cemetery with Chaplain Anthony Ford officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Family Care, c/o Huntsville Hospital Foundation, 801 Clinton Avenue East, Huntsville 35801
