Clyde Collins

Captain Clyde COLLINS U.S. Navy (Ret) Captain Clyde Collins, U.S. Navy (Ret) peacefully passed away on April 26 at the age of 86 in Bellevue, Washington. Clyde Collins was born August 28, 1923 in Lackey, Kentucky to Tip and Elizabeth Terry Collins. The Collins family moved from Kentucky to Greenwich, Ohio in 1929 when Clyde was five years old. Clyde and his family then moved to La Grange, Ohio in 1937. After graduating from La Grange High School, Clyde Collins married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Mae Kelner, on October 16, 1943 in Elyria, Ohio. Clyde had enlisted in the NavyV-5 Flight Training program on December 10, 1942. Upon completion of that training, Clyde was commissioned and assigned to the transport squadron in the Pacific. In February of 1946 he was assigned to the USS Saratoga CV3 as Assistant Navigator and Assistant Target Coordinator for the Flight Deck in preparation for the atomic bomb test Bikini Atoll. Clyde continued his service aboard the carrier during the Korean War. Captain Collins retired from the staff of the Commander Naval Air Force Pacific in 1977. Clyde, and his beloved wife, Shirley, retired to Bellevue, Washington where they have been active community members for over thirty years. Clyde Collins was a life member of the Military Officers Assisting America. He was also a member of the La Grange Ohio Masonic Lodge #399 for over 60 years. Clyde is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Glen Collins of West Covina, CA; brother Clayton Collins of Elyria, OH; sister Gwen Collins Obits of Elyria, OH; and grandson, Brad Michael Green of Chesapeake, VA. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Mae Kelner Collins of Bellevue, WA; his daughters: Nancy (David) Thomas of Abingdon, MD, Diana (Joseph) Vitale of Shiloh, NC, Patricia (Frank) Wasilewski of Rolling Meadows, IL and Lynelle (Charles) Gillis of Ramona, CA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. Clyde touched many lives in more ways than we can count. Clyde loved living in the Pacific Northwest. He was an avid fisherman, camper, and gardener. He was a fiercely independent man who showed extraordinary resilience and courage in the face of life's challenges. Clyde's gift of unconditional love will be treasured forever by his family and friends. Clyde will be honored and interred at the Tahoma National Cemetery on May 7 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Clyde's name to the American Lung Association (http://www.lungusa.org) or the Masonic Lodge #399, 103 S. Center, La Grange, OH 44050.