May 19, 1928 – February 25, 2025

On Feb. 25, U.S. Air Force Major (retired) John Edward “Ed” Collins departed this world for the next, peacefully and in his sleep, at home in Colorado Springs. He was attended by Marilyn Collins, his beloved wife of 38 years. He flew west on his own terms and in his own time, in the same way in which he lived his extraordinary life. Ed was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. He is now experiencing peace that surpasses all understanding.

Born May 19, 1928 in rural Arapaho, Wyoming, Ed was the son of Frances Elizabeth Collins. He was an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe through his full-blooded maternal grandmother, Edith Spoonhunter. His Native bloodline also traces to the allied Lakota Sioux. His Irish forebears hail from County Wicklow. Ed’s resilience and strong instinct for survival were formed in his childhood. His Depression-era upbringing on the Wind River Reservation required him to ride, swim and shoot. He later would share those skills with his four children. 

His drive, intellect and appetite for lifelong learning took him far. Ed was a natural athlete. His Arapaho name, Nii ni’ koo hut, translates to “Fast Runner.” He lettered in five high school sports — boxing, football, track and field, baseball and basketball — in Avenal, California, where he relocated at age 14 to be with his mother, Frances, and stepfather, Fred Gibson. After graduation, he worked for Standard Oil of California and attended community college in nearby Coalinga. He also earned his private pilot certificate at the Coalinga Airport. 

He enlisted in the Air Force in 1950. He trained first as a jet mechanic. He was soon selected for Officer Candidate School. As an aviation cadet, he pursued his ultimate love, flying. He commanded and instructed in many types of aircraft, including the RC-121 Super Constellation, SA-16, T-33 Shooting Star and T-39 Sabreliner, among others. He earned both his undergraduate business degree and his MBA while serving active duty. 

Ed’s charm and charisma made him welcome in many cultures. In the early 1950s he taught pilots in France. He communicated in his imperfect French, which generated amusing stories and fast friendships. His next major assignment was to fly AWACS oceanic patrol missions from McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento. In 1961-62, he served as base operations officer and air-sea rescue pilot at Sondrestrom, Greenland. While there, he hosted the Ink Spots, a popular music ensemble, to entertain at the remote Arctic outpost.

He reprised the operations role at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington. He volunteered for Vietnam, where he was in-country flight operations officer in Saigon from 1967-68. He directed flight scheduling, even for higher-ranking officers, at the world’s busiest wartime airport. He settled in Colorado Springs in 1968 with his first wife, the late Sandy Collins, and their four children, Craig, Bret, Kate and Coco. Ed retired from the Air Force in 1970 as an aviation safety expert with an Airline Transport Pilot rating. He never flew again. 

Ed’s civilian career encompassed sales training and a new profession as a real estate broker. He remained active in Colorado Springs residential and commercial markets for many years. Ed read five newspapers a day. He was an active member of the Daedalians, a horseman and a competitive golfer, well into his 80s. His health declined in recent years. His devoted second wife, Marilyn, attended selflessly to his comfort and well-being.

Major Collins’ four children, their spouses and his six grandchildren reside in Carbondale and Denver, Colorado and Southern California. He also is survived by Marilyn, six of her children and their spouses, 38 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. 

John Edward Collins’ memorial service and interment will take place in Colorado Springs on March 8.