Kenneth Wayne Collins' Obituary
Kenneth Wayne Collins, of Coffeyville, KS, passed away late Tuesday evening, February 8th, 2022, at OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. He was 70 years old.
He was born October 14th, 1951 in Oswego, KS to Howard "Red" Collins and Willa Mae (DeShane) Collins. He was raised in Chetopa, KS, and he attended Chetopa Elementary School and Altamont High School. On December 5th, 1969, he married the love of his life, Nancy Strickland, in a ceremony in Oswego, KS. She preceded him in death on May 8th, 2021.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1971-1975. He was stationed at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, OK. In 1975, he and Nancy moved to Coffeyville, KS where they raised their children.
He served his community as a member of the Coffeyville Police Department from 1975-1985, leaving at the rank of Sergeant. He then joined the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, transferring to their Computer Department in 1989 as a computer programmer. He retired in 2012.
He had several interests and hobbies over the years. He loved dirt bike racing, circle track racing, he was a Ham radio master class operator November Union 0 Bravo. He was also a member of the Montgomery County Dive and Rescue Team, and an accomplished scuba diver. He attended the Grace Fellowship Church in Coffeyville.
He is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and a sister, Georgia Sharp.
Survivors include a son, Tim Collins and wife Patricia of Owasso, OK, and three daughters, Tina Gilfillan and husband Robert of rural Caney, KS, Teresa Rogers and husband Jimmy of Caney, KS, and Tracie Woolfolk and husband Mark of Edna, KS; two siblings, Joe Collins and Carol Davis, both of Coffeyville; nine grandchildren, Chelsea Graham and husband JD, Kristy and Megan Gilfillan, Michaela Carnes and husband Logan, Amber Allender, Ty and Sydney Rogers, and Kyle and Natalie Woolfolk; five great grandchildren, Landon and Kailey Graham, and Payton, Paisley, and Preston Kelly; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will greet friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, February 14th, 2022, at the Thomas & Chenoweth Funeral Home in Welch. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 15th, 2022, also at the Funeral Home. Pastor Doug Mund will officiate. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa, where he will be laid to rest next to his wife, Nancy. Casket Bearers will be JD Graham, Landon Graham, Logan Carnes, Kyle Woolfolk, Ty Rogers, Carl Grady, and Kenneth Vest.
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