IN MEMORIAM: Chester ‘Skip’ Collins Jr. 73;

Bus Mechanic At Richfield, Mount Markham

RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Chester “Skip” Collins, Jr., 73, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 at his home.

He was born on July 27, 1945, in Cooperstown, son of Phyllis (Walrath) Collins of Springfield, and the late Chester M. Collins, Sr.  A lifelong area resident, he was a graduate of Owen D. Young High School, Class of 1963.

On March 18, 1965, he married the former Mary Alice “Mikki” Sheridan. For 30 years they shared a loving union until her passing on Nov. 11, 1995.  On Oct. 9, 2009, he married Karen Alexander in Richfield Springs.

For many years he worked as a mechanic for Richfield Springs Central School and then Mount Markham, retiring in 1996. He then went to work for JGB Properties until 2018.

He was an Army veteran and then served with the Army National Guard for 22 years,  obtaining the rank of SSG E6.

Skip enjoyed camping at Whispering Woods Camp Ground in Cleveland, Oswego County, as well as cabinet making. He will be remembered as a loyal friend who was always willing to help others.

Surviving are his devoted wife, Karen, of over nine years: his mother, Phyllis Collins of Springfield: his daughter, Maria Meyers and her husband John of Evansville, Wisc.: his son,
Paul Collins and his wife Tracie of Peyton, Colo.; grandchildren, Ashley and Coty Meyers,
Branden and Dylan Collins; two brothers, Richard Collins and his wife Johanna, of Springfield, and William Collins and his wife Linda, of Richfield Springs; three sisters, Barbara Wilkerson and her husband Patrick of Virginia, Patricia Pullis and her husband Allan of Springfield, and Karen Weidenbaugh and her husband Nelson of Alaska.

Also surviving are his step-daughter Kari-Ann Smith of North Carolina ; his in-laws,
Jerry and Cheri Sheridan, of Bergen, Ed and Carol Sheridan of Bolton Landing, Peter Sheridan of Texas, Jeannie McKeever of Georgia, and Theodore Krohn of West Winfield, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be at noon Saturday, Jan 12, in J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James St., Richfield Springs with a ceremony by the Richfield Springs American Legion, followed by Gerry Sheridan who will offer words of comfort.  Calling hours will begin at 11 a.m. until the time of the service.

Interment with military Honors will take place later this spring in St. Joseph’s Cemetery Richfield Springs.

Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donation to the
Richfield Springs Emergency Squad, PO Box 1456, Richfield Springs, NY
13439.