Collins, Former Ralphs President, Dies

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

YORBA LINDA, Calif. — Funeral services are scheduled here Friday for Patrick W. Collins, 82, former president of Ralphs Grocery Co., who died Monday.

Collins started his industry career with Red Owl Stores in Minneapolis in 1955. He subsequently operated his own four-store independent, Collins Super Value in Wisconsin, before relocating to California in 1972 as vice president of Ralphs' northern division.

He was transferred to chain headquarters in Los Angeles in 1975 and was named president and chief operating officer a year later. He assumed the post of vice chairman in of 1993, a year before he retired.

Collins is a past president of the Western Association of Food Chains and also of the Food Industries Circle for the City of Hope.

He is survived by his wife Beth and his sons.