Chester Collins

Chester Lewis Collins, departed this world peacefully in his sleep on March 9, 2022, just 30 days before his 100 th birthday.  Born April 8, 1922, in Chillicothe, Ohio, Chester led a full life until the end.  He suffered a fall on New Year's Eve 2021 but had no other serious illnesses.  Chester was married to Mary Ella Richardson Collins for 52 years, married on July 20, 1946, who preceded him in death in 1998.  They had three daughters, Darlene Slater (Donald Schlaechter), Patricia Aloisio (John Aloisio) and Lisa Downing.  Chester is also preceded in death by his parents, Lucille and Homer Collins, twin sister Esther Rawlins (Harry Rawlins), sister Mary Martha DePugh (John DePugh) and brothers Harold Collins (surviving spouse Judy Collins), Wayne Collins (Bertha Collins), a stillborn sister Eileen Ramona Collins, as well as his special nephew Michael Richardson (surviving spouse Karen Richardson) that Chester helped to raise.  Chester has surviving grandchildren Dr. Gina Aloisio, John Franklin Aloisio III, Mary K. Downing, and (William) Christopher Downing (Brittany), as well as many beloved nieces and nephews and numerous friends and associates.

Chester graduated from Huntington High School in 1940 and worked on his parents' farm until he enlisted in the US Navy in 1942, where he served until 1945 as a Navy electrician.  While in the Navy aboard the USS Dorthea Dix, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean 18 times and the Pacific Ocean 16 times—nearly 100,000 miles at sea.  He served in active invasions at Normandy (D-Day), Sicily, Southern France and Okinawa.   One of the highlights of his life was traveling back to Normandy in 2008 when the Navy Memorial was dedicated at Omaha Beach.  At that ceremony Chester was knighted and awarded the French Medal of Honor.  Another highlight was the publishing of his book in 2016, Life of a Sailor , which was a collection of letters to and from family back on the farm during his WWII service.  He also traveled with a Chillicothe consortium of veterans to help dedicate the WWII memorial in Washington DC in 2004 and then again traveled to Washington DC  in 2013 with the Honor Flight group.   He was always thrilled to participate in any veteran's event in Chillicothe or Columbus, including when the new National Veterans Memorial and Museum was dedicated in Columbus in 2018.

After returning from the Navy, Chester briefly worked for the Veterans Administration, and then worked and retired from Alcoa/Wear-Ever after 36 years.  Chester had many interests including painting, sculpting, stained glass, photography, music and fishing.  He dearly loved his property in Vinton County, dubbed "the farm".  With some help from family but mainly his own "do it yourself" efforts, Chester built a cord log cabin next to the old farmhouse.  The "farm" was also cherished by his family and when not visiting his twin sister Esther, Chester and his family could be found vacationing at the "farm".  Both Chester and Esther's combined families would take an almost annual trek to Houghton Lake, Michigan, highlighting how close the two families were through the years.  He and Mary Ella enjoyed travel after his retirement, including Hawaii and Alaska.

Chester was a long-standing member of the Chillicothe Masonic Temple, a charter member of American Legion #757, and a charter member of Sir Isaac Walton League (now Ross County Sportsman & Wildlife Association), and served as an auxiliary officer with Ohio State Highway Patrol until age 70, the mandatory retirement age.  He was a member of Ross County Historical Society, Genealogical Society, Senior Citizens and SALT Council.  He was a longtime member of Trinity Church Brotherhood as well as a member of Chillicothe's SPEBSQSA Barbershop group for many years.

Chester lived a long and fulfilling life, and will be remembered for his service to his country, his perseverance and his independence.  He will be dearly missed.

Funeral services will be at Haller Funeral Home, 1661 Western Avenue, Chillicothe, Ohio, Monday, March 21 with calling hours at 11AM, a Masonic service at 1PM, followed by a Military service graveside at Floral Hills Memorial Garden.

The family wishes to acknowledge the great care of Adena Hospice Services and Chester's attending home care aides.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory to Adena Hospice LLC, 2077 Western Avenue, Chillicothe, OH  45601; or to Honor Flight Columbus, P.O. Box 12036, Columbus, OH  43212-0036.   His online memorial register and video tribute are available at www.HallerFuneralHome.com.
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