James Marion Collins

James Marion Collins Was born in Little Rock, AR, on November 16, 1921, the only child of Bertha (Huron) and James Collins. He grew up in Little Rock and graduated with honors from Gulf Coast Military Academy (high school), Gulfport, MS. He attended The Citadel, Charleston, SC, and was scheduled to be the Cadet Captain (top cadet) in the Class of 1944. A year before graduating the Class of 1944 volunteered for duty in World War II. Following Army basic training he completed Army Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA, and was commissioned Infantry. Lieutenant Collins led soldiers in European combat (I Company, 260th Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Division) as part of General George Patton's 3rd US Army. India Company received campaign credit for the Rhineland and Central European Campaigns. Collins finished World War II in that unit as the Rifle Company Commander. Collins maintained affiliation with the US Army Reserve, where he served in both unit assignments and individual mobilization augmentee roles. He retired from the Army in 1981. His military awards included the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Jim's love of Arkansas led him to return following WWII where he married Mary Lucille Archer in May, 1946. Following completion of his bachelor's degree at the Citadel in 1946, he attended graduate school at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Jim and Mary settled in Little Rock, where they raised two children. Jim's skills and interests in the real estate brokerage, independent insurance brokerage, and homebuilding fields resulted in establishment of Collins Realty, Inc. in 1949. He served as President both of Collins Realty, Inc. and of USA Homes, Inc., which he operated in Little Rock until his retirement in 2006. Jim and Mary Collins relocated to DuPont, WA in October, 2009 to be closer to family. He and Mary enjoyed spending time with their extended family as well as new friends in the Patriot's Landing retirement community. James M. Collins passed away on April 7, 2011, at Madigan Army Medical Center after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Mary Archer Collins, two sons, James M. Collins, Jr (Linda) of Steilacoom, WA, and Dr. Charles M. Collins (Sheila) of Portsmouth, RI. Jim and Mary have 6 grandchildren: Andrew, Lauren, Michael, Corey, Conor, and Katie; as well as 2 great-grandchildren, Claire and Noah. Funeral will be in Little Rock, AR. Donations suggested either to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Foundation, www.phumc.com, or to Madigan Army Medical Center Foundation, www.madiganfoundation.org.