RICHARD ‘BUDDY’ COLLINS

Richard “Buddy” Collins, age 90, of South Daytona, FL/Tacoma, VA, passed away on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the Halifax Health Hospice, Port Orange, FL.

Richard was born on April 16, 1931 to the late Orbin and Ethel Rose Collins in Tacoma, VA.
His wife of 50 years, Kay Trad Collins, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. In addition to his parents and wife, Richard was preceded in death by a brother, Tom (Ann) Collins; sisters, Beulah (Jim) Barlow, Bernice (Paul) Harper, Theda Tiller, and Doris Kinder.

Richard is survived by his sister Carrol (Claude) Elkins, and his brother Jim (Wilma) Collins both of Tacoma. Other survivors are brothers-in-law, Jim Kinder of Waynesboro, VA and Bill Tiller of El Paso, TX, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved him dearly.

After retiring as Equipment Manager for the City of Daytona Beach, Richard and Kay enjoyed music and dancing as well as fishing together from their boat. They loved to travel and took many vacations to the Great Northwest, visiting nearly every state park in each of those states. They also visited many parks in Canada and the Midwest.

They were avid fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and enjoyed watching Florida State Women’s College Softball, as well as Nascar racing.

Richard and Kay were members of the Elks Club, never missing a dinner or dance. Being the youngest couple in their close group, they were known as the “life of the party.”

Richard was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, having served his country from 1953-1955 at Ft. Belvoir in Fairfax, VA before being deployed to Germany.

A military graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 for both Richard and Kay Collins at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Florida.