Fresno County Deputy Sheriff William H. Collins, 52, died Feb. 25, 1937, at a local hospital after an illness of two months.

He suffered a stroke two months ago and failed to recover fully. He was taken to the hospital last week.

A veteran Fresno County officer, Collins took a prominent part in virtually every major case during the terms of the late Sheriff W. F. Jones and Sheriff George J. Overholt, who retained him in office.

Collins was sworn into office under Jones on July 9, 1924. Two weeks ago, Overholt appointed his son, Albert Collins, to succeed his father on his staff.

Collins, who was born in Hayward, came to Fresno County when he was 13 years old and for many years was employed on cattle ranches in this district. Prior to his appointment as a deputy sheriff, he worked at the Blasingame Ranch in this county.

On Oct. 7, 1934, he and Under Sheriff C.A. Tarr were critically injured in an automobile and truck collision near Lodi, and the stroke has been traced to that accident, from which he did not completely recover.

Besides his son, Collins is survived by his wife, Ruth Collins, of Fresno; three sisters and a brother.

Funeral services were conducted at the chapel of the Lisle Funeral Home. Interment was at the Belmont Memorial Park.