Billy Collins

Benjamin Funeral Service - Nowata, Oklahoma B.J. (Joe) Collins was born May 4, 1925. He died Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Survivors include his son Terry Collins and daughter-in-law Gretchen Collins. His wife Dorothy Collins, mother Zona Douglas Rabenaldt and father Arthur Otis Collins preceded him in death. His friends Judy Parnell, Jean Sherrick, Jim Langley, Joe and Terry Olmstead, Buster Seaver, and Mike Stroud were by his side as he met the various challenges of his illness. The professionals of Nowata Nursing Center gave him compassionate care and befriended him. Hospice of Green Country made his last days more comfortable and peaceful. Joe was born in Osage County in a town that no longer exists: Denoya. He grew up along the Verdigris River east of Lenapah. Joe and a few others in that area called themselves the Cedar Creek Cowboys. For a time he sang in a country group. Even though life was hard, he had many fond memories of those times. He married Dorothy Mae Plecker, a switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone, on May 29, 1947 at the First Baptist Church in Coffeyville. They began their married lives in Coffeyville, but later moved back to Nowata to the house where Dorothy was born. Having begun life in poverty, Joe was a self-made man. As a young father he acquired his GED and was hired by Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville. He worked in their Research Center for 30-plus years. Joe and Dorothy were married 54 years until her death in 2002. Generous by nature, Joe contributed to the former 1033 Free Ambulance in Nowata, the downtown beautification and other charities such as John 3:16, Wounded Warrior, breast cancer research and School of the Ozarks. He was known and liked by many because of his easy laugh and great stories. He loved to garden and grew copious fruits and vegetables that he shared with friends and those in need. Adventurous and a life-long learner, he valued travel. Joe and Dorothy shared this love and visited most of the continental US, Canada and Mexico. A member of the Greatest Generation, Joe was proud of his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He volunteered at the age of seventeen. He served in the 6th Marine Division, 15th Marine Battalion and 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. He saw action in the South Pacific including Guam and Okinawa. While the word "hero" was not in his vocabulary, he and all the men and women of the armed forces were heroes. They saved much of the world from madmen. Without them and their sacrifice, the world today would have been a very different place. Joe is greatly missed by his family and friends. Semper fidelis. Memorial services are 2:00 P.M., Monday, July 27, 2015 at Benjamin Funeral Service. Honorary casket bearers are Judy Parnell, Jean Sherrick, Donna Fuller, Jim Langley, Joe Olmstead, Buster Seaver, James Lucky, Jerry Yirsa, and Lynn Yirsa. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com. Memorials may be made to the Nowata Library and Nowata Nursing Center.

Service Details

Monday, July 27th, 2015 2:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Interment Details

Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery