Faith Pauline Collins

Faith Pauline Collins passed away peacefully in Frisco, Texas with her children by her side on April 11, 2026, following a brief illness. She lived a beautiful life led with an unwavering devotion to her family for 91 years.

She was born on November 20, 1934, in Peoria, Illinois, a daughter to the late Reverend Paul and Eleanor Andres Guelzow.

Faithie, as she was affectionately known, grew up in Ironton, Missouri and spent most of her life there in the Arcadia Valley. She spoke often about her escapades as a young girl, where her first job was working at the concession stand at the State Theatre in town. She spent a few summers taking care of the Baldwin twins while their parents ran a hardware store on Main Street, as well as tending to her nieces and nephews, who lived across the street from her on Eidson Court. She finished high school with honors as salutatorian of her graduating class. With aspirations to join the FBI--she even saved the application to show her grandkids-- she decided to stay in Ironton and began working as a medical assistant for Dr. George Gay.

A few years later, John, “Johnny” Collins, swept her off her feet upon returning home from Germany in the armed services. They were married in 1960 and began an adventurous life together. For nearly 30 years, they ran an insurance agency and an accounting practice before retiring to Texas, where their first grandchildren lived.

Those who knew Faithie would say she carried herself with a soft-spoken grace about her, a stylish lady with a fiery wit and sense of humor. She was passionate about the natural beauty in ordinary things, like bare tree branches against a December sky. She had an artist’s eye and loved arranging flowers--never a season or holiday went by without a personal creation adorning her front door or dining room table. Most importantly, she instilled in those she loved that extending a simple smile could change the circumstances of someone’s day. She embodied her name, living out her life with a strong relationship with Jesus. She taught Sunday school and volunteered in the community. She championed her children and grandchildren, cheering them on in all their endeavors. She will continue to watch over them from heaven now reunited with the love of her life.

Faith is survived by a daughter Laurie (Jeff) Heger of Frisco, Texas, son Chris (Lynne) Collins of Kansas City, Missouri; five grandchildren Alec (Allison) Heger of Richardson, Texas, Emily Heger of Frisco, Texas, Ben Heger of Frisco, Texas, Sam (Josie) Collins of Kansas City, Missouri and Luke Collins of Atchison, Kansas; and one great grandson Henry Banks Heger of Richardson, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, John Collins; two sisters, Joan Benken of Madison, Connecticut and Elva Klaus of Perryville, Missouri; and a brother, Roy Guelzow of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Preston Meadow Luthern Church in Plano, Texas.

Faith will be laid to rest with a private burial in Arcadia, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Preston Meadow Lutheran Church.