Share John Ethen Collins's obituary with others.
Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
Stay updated
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Please select what you would like included for printing:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
John Ethen
Collins
September 26, 1924 – February 26, 2012
Obituary
John Ethen Collins, age 87, son of Ted and Eleanor Collins, was born in Camp Ruby, Texas on the 26th day of September, 1924 and passed away peacefully on February 26, 2012, in Waco, Texas.
After graduating from Livingston High School in 1941, John signed up with the U.S. Army Air Corps. After completing his training he proudly served his country alongside his crew mates, completing his tour of 27 bombing missions as a B-17 tail gunner ultimately receiving his Air Medal. All 27 missions operated in the European theater.
After completing his Air Corps commitments he attended Texas A&M where he graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering. During his last year at A&M John married Ruby Helen Redding of Houston. They had two sons, John and Douglas Collins.
John worked for Sinclair Oil Company managing a variety of oil production sights throughout Oklahoma as well as several in central Venezuela before returning home to Texas. While working in the jungles of Venezuela John came to know Christ and accepted him into his heart. With all of his accomplishments, his greatest joy in life was returning to Polk County and having the privilege of ministering to many wonderful folks throughout the area in his later years.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Eleanor Collins, two brothers, Jacob and Charles, and mother of his children, Ruby Helen (Redding) Collins. He is survived by his sons, John of Chicago, IL, and Douglas and his wife Nancy of Dallas, TX, granddaughter Summer Anne Scharringhausen and her husband John of St. Paul, MN, and grandson Geoffrey of Chicago, Il. John is also survived by three brothers and their families, Richard and Mary of Temple TX, Bee and Naomi of Waco TX, and Turner and Pansy of Springfield MO, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.
Visitation for family and friends will be Friday evening March 2, 2012 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston with Rev. Mitchell Murphy of Sunflower Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow the Chapel Service at Camp Ruby Cemetery in Livingston. Pallbearers are Geoff Collins, Mark Collins, John Scharringhausen, Frank Herring, Larry Herring and Joel Lightfoot.
Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online register at www.cochranfh.com
After graduating from Livingston High School in 1941, John signed up with the U.S. Army Air Corps. After completing his training he proudly served his country alongside his crew mates, completing his tour of 27 bombing missions as a B-17 tail gunner ultimately receiving his Air Medal. All 27 missions operated in the European theater.
After completing his Air Corps commitments he attended Texas A&M where he graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering. During his last year at A&M John married Ruby Helen Redding of Houston. They had two sons, John and Douglas Collins.
John worked for Sinclair Oil Company managing a variety of oil production sights throughout Oklahoma as well as several in central Venezuela before returning home to Texas. While working in the jungles of Venezuela John came to know Christ and accepted him into his heart. With all of his accomplishments, his greatest joy in life was returning to Polk County and having the privilege of ministering to many wonderful folks throughout the area in his later years.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Eleanor Collins, two brothers, Jacob and Charles, and mother of his children, Ruby Helen (Redding) Collins. He is survived by his sons, John of Chicago, IL, and Douglas and his wife Nancy of Dallas, TX, granddaughter Summer Anne Scharringhausen and her husband John of St. Paul, MN, and grandson Geoffrey of Chicago, Il. John is also survived by three brothers and their families, Richard and Mary of Temple TX, Bee and Naomi of Waco TX, and Turner and Pansy of Springfield MO, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.
Visitation for family and friends will be Friday evening March 2, 2012 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston with Rev. Mitchell Murphy of Sunflower Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow the Chapel Service at Camp Ruby Cemetery in Livingston. Pallbearers are Geoff Collins, Mark Collins, John Scharringhausen, Frank Herring, Larry Herring and Joel Lightfoot.
Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online register at www.cochranfh.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Ethen Collins, please visit our flower store.
John Ethen Collins's Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors