Dana H. Collins was born to Dana F. and Helen Collins in Whittier CA, where he enjoyed being a mischievous kid in the surrounding orange groves. He attended junior college in Pasadena, then transferred to Oregon State College in1948 to study forestry. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Forest Management, then served in Korea with the Engineering Branch of the US Army. On his return in 1953, he worked in Eugene, where he met his future wife, Patricia Riehl. He returned to OSU, and in 1956 completed his Forest Management Master's Degree, married Pat, and moved to Salem, OR to start his lengthy career as a forester with the Bureau of Land Management. He and Pat transferred to Medford, OR in 1960 and lived there until his death at age 95. Summer weekends were spent racing sailboats on Howard Prairie with their kids and in the fall, they harvested Christmas trees on King Mountain. Upon retirement, Dana spent his time tending their sailing & marine hardware business, and volunteering at First Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis, Rogue Yacht Club, Boy and Girl Scout boating programs, Habitat for Humanity, and even back at the BLM.

Dana is survived by his wife Pat Collins, children Elaine Wilson (David), Marilyn Collins, Dana O. Collins (Mary) and grandchildren Kaitlin Kallweit (Mark) and Emily Collins. A graveside service will be held in September and he had requested that donations to a favorite charity be made in his memory.