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.