SPRINGFIELD - Chester Matthias Collins Chet age 85 of McShane Road passed away on Sunday morning December 30, 2007 in his home.He had the peace and comfort of his loving family at his side. He was born on December 13, 1922 in Little Falls, son of the late Harold L. and Hattie M. Hoffman Collins.A lifelong area resident, he came from Little Falls and Dolgeville and was raised on the Chyle. He graduated from VanHornesville High School with the class of 1942.On October 30, 1944 he was united in marriage with the former Phyllis Walrath in Blessed Sacrament Church, Springfield Center. For many years Mr. Collins owned and operated Mt. Tom Farm on McShane Road, retiring in 2000. Chet had a strong belief in God and was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Springfield Center where he had served on the Church Council.He had a strong sense of community having been elected to the VanHornesville Board of Education in 1971 and serving until 1978.He was also a member of the Board of Assessment and Grievances, for the town of Springfield, as well as a member of the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation Board.He was a member of the Double Day Square Dancers of Otsego County; he served as an assistant instructor for Dale Carnegie.Mr. Collins was best known for his keen interest in sports, he was active in local bowling leagues and had participated on Basketball and Baseball Teams. He was also a Soccer Official and Baseball Umpire.In 1963 he graduated from Al Somers School of Umpiring in Ormond Beach, FL and enjoyed thirty-eight years of Umpiring.Most notable was his role as the Cooperstown Umpire in the Penny Marshall movie A League of Their Own.In 2005 he was honored by being inducted into the Legends of Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Chet will always be remembered as caring individual who was happiest when he was surrounded by his many friends and family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.He will be greatly missed. Surviving are his devoted wife of sixty-three years Phyllis, three sons, Chester Skip Collins and his companion Karen Alexander of Richfield Springs, Richard and his wife Johanna Collins of Springfield, William Bill and his wife Linda Collins of Richfield Springs, three daughters and their husbands, Barbara and Patrick Wilkerson of Norfolk, VA, Patricia and Allan Pullis of Springfield, Karen and Nelson Weidenbaugh of Chugiak, AK, three brothers, Leland Collins Sr. of Jordanville, Robert Collins of Mohawk, James Collins of Richfield Springs, five sisters, Kathleen Suits of Starkville, Dorthea Chase, Marion Fleckenstein both of Syracuse, Veronica Ingles of Minoa, Ella Louise Light of Plattsburgh, sixteen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Collins, one sister, Cecelia Davey and a daughter-in-law, Mary Alice Collins. Funeral from J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James Street, Richfield Springs on Wednesday at 10:30 am.A Mass of Christian Burial will follow in St Josephs Church Richfield Springs at 11:00 am.The Reverend John Roos will officiate. Interment will take place in Springfield Center Cemetery later this spring at a time to be announced.The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Alzheimers Association or Blessed Sacrament Church, Springfield Center.Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.