STATESVILLE - Loving husband and father, S.L. Collins Jr., passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Born in Winston-Salem on Feb. 23, 1926, he was the son of the late Sandy L. Collins Sr. and Flora Doub Collins. He was a graduate of Mineral Springs High School and attended N.C. State University. During World War II, his ship was in Admiral "Bull" Halsey's two famous task forces. His ship was alongside the Missouri as the armistice with Japan was signed. He had his first R&R in Japan immediately after the armistice was signed. When S.L. returned from the war, he and his father founded the first Cash & Carry wholesale grocery in Winston-Salem. He retired from the Iredell County Schools as director of school food services in 1988. He was a lifetime member of the Presbyterian Church, having been a member of Lee Memorial (which became Parkway) in Winston-Salem and First Presbyterian Church in Statesville. He was an elder and soloist for the choir. Through the years he was a member of Sertoma Inc. in Winston-Salem and the Civitans in Statesville. He helped found the ROMEO's, a retired men's luncheon club in Statesville. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Sandy Lee Collins, III; and a brother, Herman Lee Collins. He is survived by his wife, Betsy Dority Collins; two sons, Timothy Dority Collins, of Troutman and David Thomas Collins, of San Francisco, Calif.; a granddaughter, Kelly Marie Collins, of Raleigh; seven sisters, Ruby Collins Bailey, Norma Collins Robbins, Doris Collins Lewis, Virginia Collins Whitman, and Becky Collins Shepherd, all of Winston-Salem, Faye Collins and Phyliss Collins Williams, of Walkertown; and a brother, John William Collins, of Winston-Salem. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 at Forsyth Memorial Park, with the Rev. Stephen Scott officiating. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20 at First Presbyterian Church in Statesville, with the Rev. Stephen Scott officiating. The family will receive in the church fellowship hall after the memorial service. Memorials may be made to either the Organ or Music Fund, First Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Meeting Street, Statesville, NC 28677. Davie Funeral Service of Mocksville is in charge of the arrangements for S.L. Collins Jr.

Published in the Winston-Salem Journal on 12/18/2006.