Lt Col Lloyd H. Collins, USAF, Ret.

Lloyd H. Collins, 83, sadly passed away from a long and courageous battle with sarcoma cancer on February 8, 2023. He died comfortably, in his sleep, with his wife of 63 years, and family by his side. He was most proud of his 23-year military career having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On February 1, 1982, after 23 years of Honorable service he retired from the Air Force and went on to be a co-business owner. Lloyd ran and operated a gas, convenience and sporting goods store called Bust, Colorado for 10 years with Helen. He was also a Pikes Peak Highway Patrolman and a Blackjack dealer at Bronco Billys Casino in Cripple Creek before completely retiring from the labor force.

Lloyd was born to Ray and Ruth Carver Collins in Pueblo, Colorado on November 19, 1939. The first of 3 children. He attended Pueblo County High School and graduated in 1957. During his time in High School, he met and dated Helen Isaac. As a teen he attended Pueblo Junior College and worked as a Veterinary Assistance and a Meat Packing Plant employee. He decided his $20 a week pay was not enough and started looking into joining the military.

On January 19, 1959, Lloyd enlisted into the United States Air Force and attended basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas. He then went into Cadet Training at Harlingen AFB, Texas. Afterwards he entered Aviation Cadet Training and then was granted the Aeronautical Rating as a Navigator. On February 15, 1960, he was Commissioned as a 2nd Lt. Helen Isaac and his mother Ruth Collins rode the bus from Pueblo, Colorado to Harlingen, Texas to witness the special Ceremony. Helen had the honors of pinning Lloyds first Officer Bars to his uniform. Five days later, February 20, 1960, Lloyd married his high school sweetheart.

Lloyd was assigned to a training class at Mathers AFB, California where he became a qualified AFS Navigator-Bombardier in September 1960. He was then transferred to Shepard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas and promoted to 1st Lt. While stationed there, Lloyd and Helen Collins had three children Daniel, Suzanna, and Scott. Assigned to a B-52 Squadron in Texas and later Pease AFB, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he flew over 100 missions in support of the Korean and Vietnam wars in Southeast Asia.

In November of 1969 he was assigned to Bellevue, Nebraska as a Computer Systems Analyst/Programmer at Strategic Air Command (SAC) Offutt AFB. Lloyd loved being a part of his children’s lives. He was a coach for his daughter’s softball team. He was a Scout Leader with the Webelos and a Scout Master with his sons Boy Scout troop. Lloyd really enjoyed teaching outdoor skills, and sharing scouting adventures with his kids and their scouting friends. In the Summer of 1973, he took 3 weeks off of work to go on a camping trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park, near Jackson Hole, Wyoming with Boy Scout Troop 499.

In 1978 the Air Force offered Lloyd an assignment to the Pentagon in Maryland. He politely declined because that is not the kind of person Lloyd is. He did not care to rub shoulders with the brass. Lloyd was then offered an assignment to NORAD at the Cheyenne Mountain AFB complex in Colorado, as a Computer Systems Analyst for the NORAD/SAC Joint Advisory Staff. Lloyd could hardly hold his excitement for being transferred to the perfect location. Colorado has always been his home, and he was going back. Lloyd and Helen found their dream home in the town of Woodland Park, high in the Colorado Mountains and has lived in that house for 44 years. On February 1, 1982, Lloyd retired from military service as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Lloyd earned numerous awards and citations throughout his distinguished career including Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and 8 Air Medals.

Lloyd was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed taking family vacations around the mid-west every summer to such places as Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. Attended many family reunions in Kansas and Missouri. Took two Alaska Dream Vacations and four vacations to Hawaii when Suzanna or Daniel was stationed there.

Often took long scenic drives in the mountains, to see the Aspens changing colors and to look for wildlife. They went places they had never been before, Geocaching along the way. Lloyd and Helen Collins are Team W-Bar-V. On April 19, 2011, they and 2 other teams, Halfamind, and RustyBeerCan went on a Geocaching adventure. They found 800 Geocaches in a single day on the “Route 66 The Mother Road” series between Barstow and Needles, California. All total, Team W-Bar-V have found caches in 20 states (Including Hawaii and Alaska), and 3 countries (USA, Canada and Mexico). All total they have 5226 Geocache Finds and 5343 Travel Bug Discoveries and Moves.

Three years ago, they celebrated their 60th anniversary in grand fashion by renting a large BNB house in Breckenridge, Colorado and invited all his family to help them celebrate this monument event.

Lloyd was very skilled, talented, and detailed orientated when it came to woodworking and carpentry. He completely redesigned the house inside and out with all the shelves, cabinets, doors, and floors built by hand. He replaced the windows and sliding glass doors. He built a 2-car garage with work bench and storage area. And the landscaping he did in the front yard is absolutely beautiful. He built curio cabinets, bookcases, end tables, a gun case and more with stunning attention to detail. Lloyd did his own automotive maintenance and was always willing to help others with their car problems. At the end of the day he enjoyed reading books and watching western TV shows and movies.

Lloyd was very proud to be a lifetime member of the NRA. Helen bought Lloyd his first level lifetime membership in the early 1960’s and is currently a Benefactor Member. He was an active member and secretary for the Ute Pass 188 Masonic Lodge for 14 years. Lloyd was made a Mason on November 4, 2008, Passed on February 24, 2009 and was Raised on September 26, 2009. He was also a member of the Colorado Springs Shriners Club, Scottish Rites, a Secretary for the Al-Kaly Nomads, member of the Woodland Park Senior Center and a secretary for the Teller County Shooting Society. Lloyd was also very loyal to his Freemason Brothers. He spent hundreds of hours taking care of Art Moore’s finances and personal affairs. As if that wasn’t enough, he also spent a lot of time during his last months and weeks working on his nieces’ finances after their parents passed away. He stayed true to his friends and family even to the end.

He has touched many lives with his wit and wisdom. It was a blessing to us all. He was a wonderful and loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle, cousin, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He will be missed by many.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ray and Ruth Carver Collins, and brother, Loren Collins. Survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen Collins. Sister: Sharon Allen (Ed). Children: Daniel Collins (Marilyn), Suzanna DiRanna, and R. Scott Collins (Marla). Grandchildren: Justin Schumacher (Amber and family), Christopher Collins, Natasha DiRanna, Isabelle DiRanna (Christiane) and Stephanie Collins Viray (Gilbert) and Judith Collins. Great Grandchildren: Riley Schumacher and Chloe Grace Collins Viray. And many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Masonic Lodge Memorial is tentatively scheduled for March 18, 2023, at the Cripple Creek Masonic Lodge #96 in Divide, Colorado. A celebration of life is being planned and a proper burial with full military honors will be scheduled, at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery at a time and date to be determined later, most likely in June.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Sarah Canon Fund at the American Cancer Society, 1800 Williams St. Suite 300, Denver, CO 80218. Or go to https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=sarahcannonfundcy17 and dedicate your donation to Lloyd H. Collins.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Swan-Law.com for the Collins family.