JACK BENNETT COLLINS

1924-2021

Jack Bennett Collins Jack Bennett Collins passed away after a short illness on Monday, August 16, 2021, in Austin, Texas, about one month before his 97th birthday. Jack, the oldest of four children, was born on September 14, 1924, to Clyde and Era V (Henderson) Collins in Coleman, Texas.

Jack attended high school in Coleman and the Allen Academy in Bryan, Texas on a music scholarship. Jack played saxophone in the high school band, in a dance band to help pay for his college expenses, and in an Army band during World War II. He attended Texas Technological College where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. Jack put his college career on hold while he served in World War II in Germany, Japan, and the Philippines, becoming a decorated soldier.

Jack met Argero (Argie) Booth at Texas Tech after the war and they were married in Abilene, Texas on February 1, 1948. They were married for 52 years until her death in 2000. Jack and Argie had four loving children--Phil, Diane, Bryan, and Jim--and seven grandchildren. During their marriage Jack worked as a petroleum engineer, and they moved frequently for the first 20 years of their marriage (mostly in Texas) before finally settling in Houston in 1969, where Jack finished out his 35-year career with Conoco Oil Company.

Jack moved into the Querencia retirement community, in Austin, Texas in 2007, where he served as the first President of the Querencia Residents’ Council. While living at Querencia, he met and fell in love with Renata Lauden. They married on April 26, 2009 and enjoyed a wonderful life together for twelve years, making many dear friends at Querencia.

Jack is survived by his wife, Renata; his four children and their spouses, Phil and Cecilia Collins, Diane and Mike Daniels, Bryan Collins and Theresa “Nina” Oviedo, and Jim and Kathy Collins; grandchildren Callie, Delaney, Erin, Ray-Don, Bryan, Broderick, and Kit; greatgrandchildren, Jackson, Brydyn; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

Services will be held at a future date.