La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Frank H. Collins of Shelter Bay died at age 94 on Sunday, July 26 at Harmony House in Sedro-Woolley.

He and his wife Barbara Jean have lived in Shelter Bay since moving from Seattle in1987.

Frank was born in Seattle on January 9, 1921 and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1939. He apprenticed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and became a journeyman machinist. He served in the Navy for three years and returned to Seattle, where he married Jean in 1946. He entered the University of Washington, graduating in 1950 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

After graduation, Frank worked for Kaiser Aluminum in Trentwood, which is now part of the city of Spokane Valley, and also for Olin Mathieson in New Martinsville, West Virginia.

Frank and Jean returned to Seattle in 1959, where Frank worked for Boeing until he retired in 1983. The couple traveled most of 1983 to 1985, visiting England, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Greece, before moving to Shelter Bay.

Frank leaves behind his wife of nearly 69 years, Jean; his son and daughter-in-law Michael and Joan Collins of Seattle; his daughter and son-in-law Becky and David Welch of Sedro-Woolley; his sons James Collins of Black Diamond and Robert Collins of Kenwood; seven grandchildren, Megan Welch Hershaw and her husband Trevor, Ryan Welch, Casey, Brian, Eamonn, Bryn and Ailish Collins; and three great-grandchildren, Kaili, Oliver and Josie Hershaw.

Graveside services will be held later at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.