When William E. Collis was born on June 17, 1924, in Georgia, his father, Virgil, was 35 and his mother, Nancy, was 35. He had one son with Ruth Robinson. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Private in the 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. He entered service in Tennessee. He died on August 25, 1944 during the invasion of southern France. He is now buried at Knoxville National Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, USA.