CASWELL – John H. Collins, 56, passed away March 9, 2011, with his family at his bedside at Togus Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He expired after a long battle with respiratory problems. He was born Nov. 22, 1954, at Loring Air Force Base, the eldest son of Lloyd E. and Laversa L. Collins (Montgomery) of Limestone.
John grew up in an Air Force family, attending various schools and graduated from Limestone High School in 1973. John served in the U.S. Air Force from March 1974 to June 1980 and later worked civil service in the shipping and receiving department at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. He worked for many years at Sears, Presque Isle, as the warehouse manager until he became disabled in 2009. He enjoyed fishing, cooking, singing karaoke with his friends and playing card games. One of his favorite songs was “Big Bad John.” He was a member of American Legion Post 127, Limestone.
He was predeceased by his parents, Lloyd E. and Laversa L. Collins (Montgomery). He is survived by his son, 2nd Lt. Joshua P. Collins and wife, Amanda N. Collins (Levesque), and grandson, Lucas M. Collins, of Pensacola, Fla. Joshua currently serves in the U.S. Marine Corps and is training to be a naval flight officer. In addition he is survived by three sisters and one brother, Peggy L. Barnes (Collins) and husband, Thomas A. Barnes, of Limestone, Betty J. Elliott (Collins) and husband, retired Col. James Elliott, of China, Maine, Judy L. Peterson (Collins) and husband, Senior Master Sgt. Greg Peterson, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and retired Army Sgt. Edward L. Collins of Caswell; several aunts and uncles, a niece and several nephews and cousins. He will be greatly missed by his special friends, Pat and Hope Morgan of Caswell.
Graveside services will be held this summer at Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, Caribou. Contact family members for more information. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, 37 Lombard Road, Caribou, ME 04736, in memory of John H. Collins.