Robert Lee Collins, 70, Pipe Fitter

Born February 26, 1932 in Braxton, West Virginia, he moved to Lorain in the early 1950's.

He served in Company K, 23rd Infantry Regiment of the US Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954 and was stationed in Korea for over a year. He received the Untied nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the National Defense Service medal, Republic of Korea Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct Medal.

He worked at the Geon Co., Avon Lake as a pipe fitter in the maintenance department for 40 years, retiring in 1992. Prior to that, he worked as an apprentice funeral director and embalmer for Berry Funeral Home in Sutton, West Virginia.

He was a member of Russia Road Church, Elyria. An amateur radio enthusiast, he was known for his handle "BC". He enjoyed fishing, camping, dancing, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Surviving is his wife of 47 years, Yvonne (nee McElwain), sons, Robert "Brad", of Lorain and Randy B. of North Ridgeville, daughters, Jacqueline Zelina, of Lorain and Sandra Schroeder of Elyria, 8 grandchildren, an d1 great granddaughter, a sister, Patricia Long of Tesla, West Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his father, Everett Collins, and mother, Ella (nee Dodrill) Collins, and a grandson, Bryan Everett Collins.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 22, 2002 from 6-8 p.m. in the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain. Funeral services will be Monday, September 23, 2002, at 11:00 a.m. in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon. Rev. Carl Loughary, pastor of Russia Road Church, Elyria will officiate. Entombment will follow. The Southview High School ROTC Color Guard will provide military honors.