Joseph A. Collins

Joseph A. Collins, 81 of Elkhart, IN. passed away April 12, 2013 at 11:41 am at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born on Oct. 18, 1931 in Selma, N.C. to Joseph Arthur and Lizzie (Godwin) Collins. He married Betty L. Tapp on Jan. 5, 1953 in Raton, N.M.

She survives along with two sons; Joseph Thomas (Cindy L.) Collins of Union, MI. and Jerry (Janice) Collins of Edwardsburg, MI., two daughters; Shelly Collins (with longtime friend and companion Billie Furgerson) of Union, MI. and Pamela (Joseph Coti) Kyle of Elkhart, seven grandchildren; Shawn, Jamie, Shannon, Kelly, Crystal, Jessica and Ashley, seventeen great-grandchildren, one brother, TarHill Collins of Nightdale, N.C., five sisters; Marie (Larry) Lee of Tarboro, N.C., Dollie Aycock of LaGrange, N.C., Esther Collins and Elvie (George) Manning both of Lake Gaseon, N.C. and Beatrice Thomlin of Paducah, KY. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Pat Eugene and Buddy Collins and sisters, Mildred Perry, Grady Bell Worley, Rochelle Creech, Hazel Strickland, Nellie Langley and Faye Carroll.

Friends may call from 2-4 & 6-8 Monday at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart where services will be held 10 AM Tuesday. Reverend William Stotts of Meadowood Free Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will follow at Little Pine Cemetery, Goshen.

Mr. Collins was a truck driver entrepreneur. He owned and operated JB Enterprises.
He was a member of the AACA and DAV Chapter 19. He loved to fish, travel, watch NASCAR and most important loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a P.O.W. during the Korean Conflict and was awarded the Purple Heart. Memorial contributions may be given to the Indiana Veteran’s Home, Lafayette