BANNING, CA — A 98-year-old Banning man who was attacked and killed inside his home last month was formally identified Tuesday as Earnest Collins.

“Mr. Collins was a long-time Banning resident, who was known and loved by several people in his community,” Banning police said.

Collins was found unresponsive around 2:38 p.m. April 19 at his home in the 500 block of N. Allen Street. No arrests have been announced in the case and police say they are looking for tips.

“We thank the public for their assistance in bringing justice to Mr. Collins, his family, and friends,” the Banning Police Department said.

According to an obituary for Collins, he was born on Jan. 5, 1926, in Foreman, Arkansas, to Clay Collins Sr. and Caroline Johnson Collins.

He went on to be drafted by the U.S. Army in 1946 and received an honorable discharge. He married his first wife, Vera Odessa Collins, and together they had three children: Allen James Collins, Johnnie Earl Collins, and Jimmy Ray Collins, the obituary states.

From 1959 to 1979, Collins worked at a cotton mill in Calipatria.

“He was such a great people person that he quickly advanced to night shift foreman,” according to the obituary.

Following his retirement from the mill, Collins married his second wife, Lucille Sullivan.

Collins was preceded in death by both of his wives and two of his sons, Allen James and Jimmy Ray.

He is survived by sons Johnnie Earl of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Bobbie Lee Collins of Phoenix, Arizona, and eight grandchildren — Jason Anthony Collins, Michelle Lavette Collins, Dione Lamar Collins, Datrice Lanette Collins, Deandra Renae Collins, Dorian Ray Collins, Allen James Collins, Jr. and Lorraine Denise Collins — several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to contact the Banning Police Detective Bureau at 951-922-3170.

The post Beloved 98-Year-Old RivCo Man Killed In His Home, Police Seek Tips appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

However, military families also have access to financial benefits and savings opportunities such as low-cost investments, loans, insurance, and legal protection, according to the website of the CFP Board, a non-profit organization whose mission is to benefit the public by granting the CFP® certification and upholding it as the recognized standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning.

“Applying the same mission mindset to managing your personal finances that you bring to managing your military career can be especially helpful,” says Steve Repak, CFP®, a U.S. Army Veteran who went on to a career as a certified financial planner after 12 years of service.

“If I had done a little planning, and executed on what might have been a slightly painful budget when I first joined the military, I wouldn’t have been left with so much credit card debt,” he acknowledges.

To make the most of your finances, create a financial plan for saving and investment just as you would plan a military maneuver.

– Identify your goal. First, identify where you are, then where you want to be financially, and outline the steps to get there. Start by figuring out your monthly income and expenses, and how much you want to add to savings each month. Put a plan in writing to reduce or eliminate spending to meet your goal.

– Turn to a team. Military families can consult a range of resources for help in developing a financial plan, including the U.S. Army Community Services (ACS) for Army personnel. In addition, a CFP® professional can help you clarify financial goals and objectives and offer you strategies for meeting them.

-“Be determined and take action now. What you know about financial planning is less important than what you do about it,” Mr. Repak says.

Adopt a “war fighting spirit” and do what is necessary to accomplish your financial mission, whether it is saving money, reducing debt, building wealth for retirement, taking specific steps for money management now that will pay off with financial freedom in the future.

Visit letsmakeaplan.org for more advice and tips to help military families meet their financial goals.

NewsUSA • Contributed

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