Daniel Wills Collins Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Daniel Wills Collins of Moorestown, New Jersey passed away on April 15, 2020, in Burlington County at the age of 88 years old. Born to Anna M. Albertson and Lester Collins, Daniel Wills Collins was the 12th lineal descendant of Francis Cooke, a Pilgrim who came to America on the Mayflower. As a result, Mr. Collins was an approved member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. As a Quaker, he sought peaceful solutions to the many challenges facing his lifetime. Mr. Collins grew up in Moorestown, graduated from Harvard University, Cum Laude, and attended postgraduate courses toward an MBA degree at the Harvard Business School. After gaining experience at the Campbell Soup Company, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, and Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company, Mr. Collins established his career in all phases of fund raising. He served on many Boards and Foundations. Affiliations included: Harvard Clubs of Philadelphia and New York City, Mayflower Society of New Jersey, Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, Huntingdon Valley Hunt Club, Orchard Friends School of Moorestown, American Friends Service Committee, Society of Friends, Print Club of Philadelphia, and Moorestown Free Library. Conflicted by his Quaker upbringing of nonviolence, nonetheless Mr. Collins was willing to serve as part of the Military Service Draft requirement. He fulfilled his obligation by serving an alternative service as a Commissioned Officer for two (2) years in Chicago with the American Friends Service Committee working with teenaged gangs and with a community council involved in urban renewal. Mr. Collins was active with the local Quaker Friends Meeting, Quarterly Meetings, and the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. An avid reader, he enjoyed around-the-world travel, horseback riding, and horticulture, the art and science passed on by his Father, Lester Collins, who was a farmer. Mr. Collins, introduced to horseback riding at the age of five (5) years old, had an ability to have an adventurous spirit as an equestrian, therefore during leisure times he enjoyed entering his horses at horse shows and participating in fox hunting. Memorial services will be held at a date and time to be announced.