wayne devere collins
TOBACCOVILLE—
Dr. Wayne Devere Collins, 90, died Thursday, April 15, 2004. He was
born April 23, 1913, in Wellsville, Kansas, to Roy and Pearl Plummer
Collins. Dr. Collins graduated from Kansas State University in 1939
with a degree in veterinary medicine. From 1939 to 1941, he was
employed as a veterinarian with the N.C. Department of Agriculture. Dr.
Collins served with the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1946, where he attained
the rank of major. During his military career, he served as a
veterinary officer of large animals in Africa, Italy, France and
Germany. He also served with a field artillery battalion, an evacuation
hospital and headquarters command of the United States Forces European
Theater. He was awarded the European Theater Ribbon with Four Stars,
Bronze Star Medal, American Defense Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon and
the Victory Ribbon. He was preceded in death by a
stepdaughter, Sharon Burnette. He is survived by his wife, Mamie Stone
Collins; two stepdaughters, Patricia (Mitchell) Buckner and Donna
Smitherman; son-in-law Dillard (Debbie) Burnette; grandchildren,
Jeffrey, Tim (Jennifer) and Tom (Jennifer) Mendenhall, Melissa (Bruce)
Kelly, Lyle (Tammy) Burnette and Carrie Smitherman;
great-grandchildren, Cameron and Madison Mendenhall and Mary Grace
Kathryn Kelly; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dick and Polly
Willett, Fred Gaines, and Dennis and Betty Stone; one nephew, Bill
Marble. The family will receive friends from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at
Slate Funeral Home in King, at which time the funeral service will be
held with the Rev. Eddie Tyson officiating. In lieu of flowers,
memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 3420 Shamrock
Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.