Winfred Emmert Collins

Funeral services for Winfred Emmert Collins, 92, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2013, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Collins died at 7:00 a.m., Monday, April 15, 2013, at his home.

He was born May 6, 1920, at Roosevelt, Missouri, to Hobart Garrett Collins and Alice Amanda White Collins. On May 25, 1946, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Lillian Freeman.  When he was 18 years old, he joined the CCC Camp in the Noblett Lake area.  He was drafted into the United States Army and served in the South Pacific Campaign from 1942 to 1945, being discharged with medals of Honor including a Bronze Star and Bronze Arrowhead.    He was a farmer in the Twin Bridges area and had been a school bus driver for twenty-five years for Willow Springs School District.  After retirement, he loved making a huge garden and enjoyed trout fishing and camping at Montauk.  He also enjoyed going to Branson with family.  He loved his family and was very proud of them, especially his great-grandchildren.  Mr. Collins was a member of Big Springs Missionary Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian Collins, of the family home; four children, Shirley Bunch and husband, Junior, Twin Bridges,  Missouri, Lennie Collins and wife, Sharon, Mountain View, Missouri, Michael Collins and wife, Tammy, Twin Bridges, Missouri, and Robin Collins and wife, Brenda, Willow Springs, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Kevin Bunch and wife, Sheila, Blue Springs, Missouri, Tim Bunch and wife Kristin, West Plains, Missouri, Johana Groves and husband, Shane, Blue Springs, Missouri, Shawn Thompson and husband, Rich, West Plains, Missouri, Casey Klug, Russellville, Arkansas, Kem Collins and wife, Ashley, Nixa, Missouri, Tyson Collins, and wife, Sarah, Springfield, Missouri, Taylor Collins, Willow Springs, Missouri and Tanner Collins, Willow Springs, Missouri; ten great-grandchildren, Garrett Bunch, Dylan Bunch, Trenton Lovan, Gage Groves, Hattie Groves, Ethan Bunch, Nathan Bunch, Dawson Collins, Bryley Collins and Evelyn Rudolph; three sisters-in-law, Fern Collins, Eldon, Missouri, Mary Collins, Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Helen Wyas, Chandler, Arizona; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, one infant granddaughter, Savannah Elizabeth, great-grandson, Jayce Groves, two sisters, Eva Gilbert and Francis Anne, two brothers, Wilford and J.R. Collins; one infant brother, four infant sisters, and two brothers-in-law, Earl Gilbert and Ray Wyas, precede him in death.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Inman Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Inman Cemetery, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.