Wednesday March 5, 2003
Sterling Collins services Thursday
Funeral seervices for Sterling Neal Collins, 82, West Plains, will be 10 a.m. Thursday, March 6, 2003 in the Rose Chapel of the Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, with thte Rev. Bob Arnold officiating.
Mr. Collins died 3:45 p.m. Monday, March 3, 2003, at Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains. He was born Nov. 6, 1920, in Ozark County, the son of Shelt and Anvilene Robinson Collins.
On Oct. 11, 1941, he was married at West Plains to Irene Cunningham, who preceded him in death June 14, 1999.
In 1942 and 1943, Mr. Collins worked at the CCC, he had been employed at Richards Brothers, had been a school bus driver for Fair View School, and was a carpenter and farmer.
He was a meember of Union Grove Church.
Survivors inclue four children, Beverly Hammond and husband, Jim, Randy Collins and wife, Kathy, Anita Reno and husband, W.J., and Kathy Franks and husband, Doyle, all of West Plains; a daughter-in-law, Kay Collins, West Plains; 11 grandchildren, Coyeatte Ewing and husband, Jon, and Christopher Roberts, all of Springfield, Meshell Fox, Burnett, Texas, Shane Collins, Mark Hammond and wife, Karen, Randa Franks, Michael Roberts, Patrick Roberts and Tina Collins, all of West Plains, Dwayne Hammond and wife, Michelle, Pine Mountain, Ga., and Tara Riley and husband, Will, Caulfield; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother Delmar "Cooney" Collins, West Plains; two sisters, Clara Kelley and Jewell Brixey, both of West Plains; and many nieces and Nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two sons, Virgil Lee Collins and Edgar Neil Collins; three brothers, Herb Collins, Webb Collins and Harry Collins; and two sisters, Ethel Fox and Goldin Collins.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Liberty Cemetery or Union Grove Cemetery and left at the funeral home.
The body will lie in state at the funeral home 1 p.m. today until service time. Family visitation will be 7 to 8 p.m. today.
Burial will be in New Liberty Cemetery under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.