William Ernest Collins

William Ernest (Jack) Collins, 86, of Roanoke passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Jack was a loving husband who felt fortunate to have had two wonderful women in his life. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 35 years, Betty Sink Collins and is survived by his wife of 21 years, Alice Black Collins. In addition to his wife, Jack also leaves behind two daughters, Amy Jo Collins, Kathryn Teeter and husband, Jeff; step-son, Robert (Sam) Blum; and four grandchildren, Karla Teeter, Collin Teeter, Mitchell Blum, and Jack (JC) Blum. Jack proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He retired after 40 years with APCO and then traveled the world. He will be remembered for his wry and dry sense of humor. He always had a cute joke to tell or song to sing. Jack kept his humor about him to the end. A sports enthusiast, he spent his life playing, refereeing, or watching sports. Baseball was a lifelong interest of Jacks. He is in heaven now organizing a baseball league we are sure. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 from 6 until 8 p.m. at John M. Oakey & Son funeral home in Salem. Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Sherwood Memorial Gardens where military rites will be conducted. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Lifenet at, www.lifenethealth.org, or to the kidney foundation, or become an organ donor. An online guestbook is available by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.