William Joseph (Joe) Collins, 89, died Monday, August 16, 2004 at Bourbon Community Hospital. The son of the late M. A. and Mary Frances Hisle Collins, he was born in Madison Co., Ky. May 20, 1915. He was raised on Waverly Farm near Richmond and formerly resided in Versailles and San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Collins is survived by four children and their spouses, Margaret Brown Collins Altom and her husband Wayne of Winchester; Jo Anne Lorensen and her husband Len of Ashville, North Carolina; Lisa Phelps Collins and her husband Curtis E. Jones of Lexington; and Thomas Noland Collins and his wife Dr. Anna E. Newman of Paris. He is also survived by his beloved partner, Geneva Connally of San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Collins is also survived by six grandchildren, Danny Wayne Altom of Covington, Valerie VanBooven of St. Louis, Margaret Frances Altom of Winchester, Ira Collins Duncan of Lexington, Hannah P. Collins of Ladson, South Carolina, and Sadie Rose Collins of Paris.

A 1933 graduate of Model High School in Richmond, Mr. Collins also attended Eastern Kentucky State Teacher’s College. During World War II he served for three years as a civil engineer on the construction of the Alcan Highway in Alaska and subsequently worked for many years as a stone mason. He was an avid outdoorsman.

His son Thomas Collins and daughter-in-law Anna Newman provided care and comfort to him during the final months of his life.

A graveside service will be held at the Richmond Cemetery Friday, August 20 at 1:00 PM with Dr. Thom Gibson officiating. Turpin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be made to an organization that kindly assisted in the care of Mr. Collins, the Bourbon County Senior Citizens Center, P.O. Box 159, Paris, KY 40362.