Reverend Hugh Calvin Collins, 92,passed away on Apr. 10, 2022 in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was born in Spokane, Washington to Rev. Frederick Leroy Collins & Vera (McDonald) Collins. He grew up in Tumtum, Washington. during the great depression in a family devoted to following Jesus Christ.
Hugh attended Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada with his brother Leroy, completing his Bible and Missionary training Apr. 10, 1951. He returned to Spokane, attending Whitworth College & graduating with a B.A. in 1956. By this time, he had met the love of his life Adeline Rieger, from New Leipzig, North Dakota who was attending Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland , Oregon. and happened to be close friends with his sister Shirley.
After a five year engagement which included many love letters and trips to visit each other, Hugh and Adeline were married on June 29, 1959 in Long Beach, California.
Hugh continued his studies at Talbot Theological Seminary in Los Angeles, California. and earned a Bachelor of Divinity in 1962. Hugh and Adeline adopted a baby girl, born Nov. 23, 1962 and named her Beth Ann. They chose to expand their family again through adoption in 1969, adopting their daughter Marilee Joy.
In 1963, the couple was commissioned by World Ventures (formerly Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society) for missionary service in France. They served there for almost 30 years in church-planting and pastoral ministry, retiring in 1992.
Hugh and Adeline moved to Medford, Oregon where Hugh was the visitation pastor at First Baptist Church for four years before moving back to Spokane, Washington. to be near their daughters. Hugh worked as a chaplain with Love your Neighbor ministries for ten years, ministering to the elderly in local hospitals, retirement homes and Assisted Living communities there.
In July 2017, Hugh moved to Pittsburg, Kansas to live with Marilee and her husband, John Luttrell.
Despite serious health challenges including a broken neck, Hugh's faith and his sense of humor never failed to encourage and brighten someone's day. He has left a big hole in our hearts and is greatly loved and missed.
Hugh was preceeded in death by:
infant daughter Claudine Collins, wife Adeline R. Collins, father Rev. Frederick L. Collins, mother Vera Collins, brother Rev. Frederick Leroy Collins & sister-in-law Edith Collins, nephew Gene Collins, sister Shirley Dobias and brother-in-law Joe Dobias.
He is survived by daughter Beth Ann Collins & Ray Marson, Moses Lake, Washington.; daughter Marilee Luttrell (John), Pittsburg, Kansas; granddaughters Alexandrine Perkins, Portland, Oregon. & Arianna Perkins, Cheney, Washington. and his great-granddaughter Luna June Marie Dotson (Arianna's daughter) Cheney, Washington.; nephew James Collins, Mica, Washington. (Kris); niece Linda (Collins) Fairhurst (Kevin) Spokane Valley, Washington.; nieces Cheryl Piekstra (Glenn) Vancouver, Washington. & Valerie Zivojinovich (Andy) Chicago, Illinois; nephew Hugh Wesley Dobias, Newberg, Oregon.; sister-in-law Catherine Grosz, Bismark, North Dakota & numerous nieces & nephews on Adeline's side.
Hugh & Adeline were members of Trinity Baptist church in Spokane, Washington.
Celebration of life Kansas: Sunday, Apr. 24 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Countryside Christian Church
Fellowship Hall 1901 E 4 th St. Pittsburg, Ks 66762
Viewing on Friday, Apr. 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home 508 N. Government Way Spokane, Washington. 99224
Memorial service Washington : Saturday, Apr. 30 at 1 p.m. Trinity Baptist Church6528 N Monroe St Spokane, Wa. 99208
