Read William "Bill" Hylton Collins's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

William "Bill" Hylton Collins

Woodlawn, VA, USA

May 15, 1936 - January 20, 2021

May 15, 1936 - Jan 20, 2021

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William Hylton Collins, 84, of Woodlawn, VA, passed away on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. He
was born May 15, 1936, to the late William Bryan Collins and Alice Hylton Collins in Woodlawn. He was
predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Judith Parsons (“Lou”) Collins.
Bill is survived by his daughters, Leigh Collins of Galax, VA; Lynne Canan of Knoxville, TN; Sandy
(Fortune) Odend’hal of Knoxville, TN; and Shannon (Jim) Berry of London, England; sister, Susan Collins
(Joe) Kirby of Salem, VA; nephew, Jay Kirby of Thompson’s Station, TN; niece, Dr. Caroline Kirby of
Radford, VA; sister-in-law, Peggy Parsons Chappell of Galax, VA; six grandchildren; five great
grandchildren; special cousins Dr. Jim Hylton of Pulaski, VA, and Eddie Chitwood of Hillsville, VA.
After graduating from Galax High School, Bill received his B.S. (1958) and M.S. (1961) degrees
from VPI&SU (Virginia Tech), majoring in agricultural engineering. He taught at the University of
Massachusetts-Amherst and then at the University of Nebraska’s mission college in Medellin, Colombia,
South America. He returned to his beloved southwest Virginia when he joined the Virginia Tech faculty
in 1971, serving in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering and the Virginia Cooperative
Extension Service until his retirement as Associate Professor Emeritus in 2000.
In his academic career he specialized in designing farm structures and improving the profit
potential for dairy and beef cattle enterprises. Through his work with the U.S. Feed Grains Council, he
consulted internationally and represented Virginia Tech and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service
in Europe, the Far East, and South America. His “Collins feedlot” design spread through Japan and
Yugoslavia and has been adapted on farms in Eastern Europe, Korea, and throughout the United States
and Canada.
He and Lou enjoyed playing bridge in Blacksburg, playing golf with friends at the Blacksburg
Country Club, attending Hokie football games, and traveling to the Bowl games. Bill also enjoyed his
regular poker games with BCC friends. Soon after surviving leukemia, Bill earned his pilot’s license.
Having grown up on a farm, he was always happiest around livestock and farmers, and enjoyed
retirement raising beef cattle, building fences (of his design), and observing wildlife on his farm in Carroll
County.
His family would like to thank special caregivers Kate Aydelette, Kacey Combs, Mildred Lea,
Tracy Burns, Debbie Gardner, Becky Danison, and Penny Allen.
Bill’s life will be celebrated in a memorial service at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society.

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