ARCH RAY COLLINS, age 88 years, a resident of the Ward Road, Elkins, WV departed this life early Thursday morning, February 25, 2010 at the home of his daughter and son in law, Eula Jean and John Smith. He had been in declining health.
He was born Wednesday, October 19, 1921 on the Back Road in East Dailey, WV a son of the late Harvey Collins and Jessie Jane Johnson Swager Collins Arbogast. On September 26, 1941, he was married to the former Opal Melba Lambert, who preceded him in death during 1999. Surviving are his children; step son, Harry Lee Lambert, Sr., and wife Naomi, Mabie; daughter, Esther Mae Collins Shannon and husband Harmon, Beverly; son, Roger Lee Collins, Elkins; daughter, Eula Jean Collins Smith and husband John, Elkins; thirteen grandchildren; twenty six great grandchildren, several great great grandchildren; several step grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; two brothers, Bruce Collins and Richard Collins, both of Elkins; one sister, Opal Collins Lambert, Huttonsville.
Preceding him in death are one daughter, Eloise Collins Miller; one son in law, Boyd Virgil Miller; two brothers, William and Lawrence; one half brother, Bob; three half sisters, Alta, Bernice and Zela.
He attended the one room school at Shaffers Run, Mill Creek, was a truck driver for R. H. Armstrong for many years, was a coal miner and retired from the West Virginia Department of Highways in 1987. He loved to hunt and fish and after his retirement was an avid gardener. He was well known in the area and loved to talk to people and did not know a stranger. He was the winner of the Fiddle Contest at the first Mountain State Forest Festival
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 4 to 7 PM, Saturday. Final Rites will be conducted at the funeral home chapel, Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 1 PM. The Reverend Terry Cannon will officiate and interment will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery at East Dailey, WV. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for ARCH RAY COLLINS. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com
