Lyle Collins

1926 - 2010

Lyle Collins of 10106 E. Bass Circle, Inverness, passed away at his home on Sunday, June 6, 2010. He was born in War, WV, on March 9, 1926, and was raised in Litwar, WV. He was a graduate of Laeger High School and Bluefield Business College and served our country in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Collins retired from the Jeep Corporation in Toledo, OH, and was a member of the UAW, Local No. 12.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Murphy Collins, and one first cousin, Louise Butler of Cleveland, OH. Also surviving is one half-brother, Harvey Collins and three half-sisters, Frances Armstrong, Alice Bowman, and Ruth Brown, all of Collinsville, VA; sister-in-law, Beverly Collins, Senoia, GA; two nieces, Pat Jarrell and Kay Hazelwood of Greensboro, NC; nephews, Bruce Terry, Richmond, VA; Timothy and Lyle Collins and nieces, Mrs. Robert (Kimberly) Wilson, Mrs. Michael (Cathy) Hooffstetter, all of Columbus, OH; a sister Phyllis Collins Cline, whose last known address was San Diego, CA. He has numerous second and third cousins.
Preceding him in death was his mother, Myrtle Harrison Collins Vance; his father, Arthur Dean Collins; brother, Arthur C. Collins (Junior); and sister, Sarah Collins Terry Doggett.
In Toledo, he served as Vice President of the Country Music Association of Ohio, and was Editor-In-Chief of their newspaper, "Pickin' and Grinnin.'" Those duties included a Saturday morning radio show "Collins' Corner." He played in numerous bands over the years, and booked, backed, and fronted for many of the Nashville Opry stars.
He loved playing his guitar for nursing homes, churches, community centers, and campgrounds. He and his wife booked themselves as "The West Virginia Sweethearts." They played old country and gospel. He wrote and published a book, "Odyssey West Virginia-Litwar, Then-and Now," which expressed his love for his home state of West Virginia and his hometown area of Litwar and the people who lived there.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Rutland.
Visitation will take place on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Charles E. Davis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be officiated by Pastor Bill Johnson at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. Burial will follow at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Floral City.