Robert ‘Bob’ Charles Collins, 80, of Stark, father of Ricky Bruneau of Humboldt, died Friday, June 25, 2010, at his home.
He was born April 1, 1930, to Oral and Dorothy (Richwine) Collins. He attended and graduated from Grant Township High School. He then attended Neosho County Community College for one year. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950. He was inducted Jan. 8, 1951, and discharged Oct. 21, 1954. He served during the Korean War on Bairoko aircraft carrier with two tours of duty in the Yellow Sea from 1952 to 1953. He went through the H-bomb testing in 1954 in the Marshall Islands. Two weeks after being discharged from the Navy he rented a farm and later purchased the farm where he and his wife lived for 44 years.
On Dec. 11, 1965, he married Elissa Ann (Bruneau) Collins. He was a well-known farmer around Stark and the surrounding area. He was a member of United Methodist Church in Stark and a member of Chanute’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1654 Cecil J. Meeker. He was also a member of the National Rifle Association and a board member of the Bank of Commerce in Chanute for many years. He was an avid University of Kansas basketball fan and liked watching and keeping up with all high school sports.
He is survived by his wife of the home; a daughter, Deanna Quillen, Hugoton; two additional sons, Rusty Bruneau, Stark, and Scott Collins, Drexel, Mo.; a sister, Oralee Beggs, Stark; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church in Stark. The Revs. Pete Smith and Pauline Clugston will officiate. Burial, with military rites, will follow in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Stark United Methodist Church.
Memorials to Stark Alumni or Grant Community Club may be sent in care of Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel, 328 E. 12th St., Baxter Springs, KS 66713. Online condolences for the family may be left at derfeltsbaxterchapel.com.
‘Bob’ Collins
