Obituaries: W. H. Collins, 1991, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: April 24, 1991 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

W. H. Collins

W. H. Collins died April 18 at the Winnfield Humana Hospital after a long
illness.  He was 72.  He was the sons of the late Willie Henry and Nola
Carpenter Collins.

Services were held at the Bethlehem Baptist Church, Saturday, April 20, with
the Rev. Lamar Carpenter officiating, assisted by the Rev. Grady Welch. 
Special music was provided by Shirley Brewton, Minnie Martin, and Mary Lou
Carpenter.  Burial was in the Bethelehem Cemetery under the direction of
Southern Funeral Home.

His education began in the "One Room School House" in the Wattsville
Community.  Later he attended Calvin School to completion of high school in
1937.  At this time he enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps and was
promoted shortly to leader.  In September, 1939 he received an Honorable
Discharge from the C. C. C. and was employed by Watkins Grocery Store in
Winnfield.  After a time he returned to the C. C. C. and stayed until January,
1941.

December 20, 1940, Mr. Collins and the former Myrtle Kelly were married at the
First Baptist Church in Winnfield.  After marriage the couple moved to Minden,
where he was Superintendent of Labor at the Louisiana Ordnance Plant working
for Silas Mason.

In January, 1941 Mr. Collins worked as Superintendent of Labor working in
construction in the building of Camp Livingston in Alexandria.

He was called to active duty of the armed forces on May 18, 1944 and was
relieved on April 28, 1945 to accept a key position at the La. Ordnance Plant
at Minden.  After World War II he returned to active duty until receiving an
Honorable Discharge on January 23, 1946.

After returning to civilian life, Mr. Collins became a self-employed 
contractor.  His first experience in construction, being at the age of 12,
building roads for his uncle using the method of slips and horses.  During his
40 years as a contractor, Mr. Collins built many ponds, roads, and oil field
locations in Winn and surrounding parishes.  In the later years the work
centered around the wood industry.

Mr. Collins was elected Police Juror for Ward Eight, serving from June 2, 1952
to May 11, 1964.  During his twelve year term he also served as President of
the Police Jury.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Myrtle of Calvin; three children, Ann
Martin, William Homer Collins, both of Calvin, and Jane Griffin of Texarkana,
Texas; five grandchildren, Billy, Kayla, Collin, Ashlea, and Aaron.

Mr. Collins is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Roas Mae Cooper, Cynthia Boone,
of Calvin, La., and Beatrice Cutrer of Magnolia, Mississippi.  Also surviving
are innumerable friends.

Pallbearers at the service were Billy Collins, Phil Cooper, Vernon Weeks,
Sonny Brewton, Tommy Brewton, Dr. Raymond Collier, Bro. E. J. Yocum, and
Donald Carpenter.

Honorary pallbearers included Ray Daughtry, Dan Page, and Louis Abels.