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Willard was born to Leonard Marion Collins and Eliza Jane Elliott on Sunday, December 18, 1898 at 1630 Rowan Street, in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. I don't have an actual birth certificate for him, he is listed on a "Birth Register." See attached.

His parents had a total of twelve "12" children starting with Willard in 1898. They were 2 to 3 years apart in age. Several didn't live to adulthood. Pulmonary Tuberculosis took his Father and 3 of his siblings. The last child was born in 1921.

Census Record Information for Willard's Father:

1900 Census - Willard's family lived with his Grandfather Samuel (he was a widow). It was taken in Lafayette Township but does not list an actual street address.

1910 - they rented a home on West 5th Street.

1920, 1930, and 1940 they owned a home at 645 West 5th Street. The 1930 Census shows the value of the home was $800 and by the 1940 Census, the value dropped to $200.

On February 14, 1920, Willard married Myrtle Agnes Langdon in Clark County, Indiana. During their marriage, they had 6 children, 2 of whom are still living.

I couldn't find much on Willard's employment. When he registered for the draft in 1905,

he was working at Reynolds Metal Co. Jack remembers him being a janitor at Southside Restaurant on Main Street and at the old Floyd County Courthouse.

We don't know the date they moved to 213 West 7th Street, where they lived there for many years.

Willard was scared to death of storms - not sure why unless it was the tornado of 1917 that put this fear in him. This is what Jack thinks, not verified. So when it stormed, he would walk to downtown and stand under store overhangs.

Riverview Towers was built around 1971 and Willard and Myrtle rented an apartment there even though they had their home on West 7th Street. Myrtle wasn't happy there and moved back to their family home. Willard was happy there and continued to live there by himself and would walk back and forth to the house daily. He told Jack how safe it was to live there because it was built of concrete.

He never drove a vehicle and walked everywhere, unless someone could talk him into getting in a vehicle to take him to the doctor and such.

Several of the Grandchildren have so many cherished and fun stories to tell of their Grandpa Collins:

Jack Sr. loved to tell about the time he was on his way home from work and an "old man" ran across the street in front of him close to the high rise - he would laugh and say "it was my Dad."

One that Jack and Garry tell (well maybe Garry LOL), before they were old enoughto buy beer themselves. They would give him the money and ole Grandpa would get it for them. Grandma Collins couldn't believe he did it.

Willard passed away on August 12, 1991. His daughter was at the hospital to take him home and he had a heart attack and died while walking the halls before discharge.

He is buried at Tunnel Hill Cemetery in Edwardsville, Indiana.

Do you have a favorite memory of Grandpa Collins, please comment and share it so everyone can enjoy it with you.