Funeral services for Wendell Arthural Collins, 86, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 1, 2012, at Howell Valley Chapel, West Plains, Missouri, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Collins died at 7:31 a.m., Wednesday, August 29, 2012, at Ozarks Medical Center.

He was born November 5, 1925, in Ozark County, near Dora, Missouri to Jasper Sherman Collins and Alta Jane Russell Collins.  Mr. Collins graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1943; and on March 20, 1946, was married at Quartzsite, Arizona, to Zoe Wynema LaPlante, who preceded him in death on September 11, 2009.  Mr. Collins was a veteran having served with the United States Army and United States Navy during the Pacific Theatre of War.  He worked at Fairchild Aircraft before moving back to West Plains in 1958.  He owned and operated the Ranch House Restaurant and Station and was a cattleman and farmer.   Mr. Collins was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan; he always looked forward to baseball season every year.  He will be deeply missed by his loved ones.

He is survived by three children, Colin Collins, wife, Leslie, Mark Collins, wife, Ruby and Colleen Pelton, husband, Kevin, all of West Plains, Missouri; six grandchildren, Sarah Howerton, Amber Light, Carrie Collins, Casey Collins, Wade Collins and Lidia Collins; seven great-grandchildren, Molly Collins, Bryant Collins, Morgan Light, Lauryn Gray, Collin Gray, Emma Tinsley and Annabella Tinsley; sister-in-law, Maxine Collins; and many nieces and nephews.

His parents, wife, grandson, Michael Collins, three brothers, Marvin, Basil and J D Collins, and two sisters-in-law, Gladys and Rosa Collins, precede him in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, August 31, 2012, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Howell Valley Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to West Plains Chapter of Future Farmers of America, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home