Leona Martha Anna Reynolds Collins
December 10, 1915 - June 26, 2014
Leona Collins, 98, of La Porte, IN passed away peacefully at home on June 26, 2014.
She was born December 10, 1915 to Earl and Martha (Rosenow) Reynolds in La Porte, IN and lived in La Porte her entire life. Leona was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend who delighted in community activities and in her family. She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in La Porte and spent numerous hours volunteering her time to help the Church, which included stuffing newspapers at the Herald-Argus, ushering, volunteering as a secretary, and even by donating the contents of her home to her Church when she downsized into a smaller apartment.
Leona was a proud graduate of La Porte High School and was excited to work at La Porte High School as a secretary, where she worked until her retirement. She enjoyed working with the students and attending sporting events. Leona had a closet full of Slicers gear and enjoyed going to basketball and baseball games, where she cheered as loudly as possible. Leona was also a member of the La Porte Aero Club, where she served as secretary, the Women’s Circle at her Church, Naomi Circle La Porte Chapter No. 280 O.E.S., La Porte Hospital Auxiliary, La Porte Camera and Travel Club, Retired Public Employees of Indiana, Inc., and various dance groups around town. She made sure to pick up friends to take them to church when they did not have their own transportation and also volunteered serving lunches for funerals of Church members.
Leona delighted in the world around her. She taught her granddaughters and great-grandchildren to “look!” and see all that was around them. She took pleasure in the simple things, from the beautiful peonies growing in her garden, to the taste of a juicy ripe strawberry, to growing her own garden. Leona loved being outside and delighted in being able to see Chicago from the shores of Lake Michigan in Michigan City. She made sure family was and felt important, traveling frequently to visit her son and granddaughters, both in their homes and when they were in college. She made sure she attended local band concerts, both when her son played in them and long after he no longer did. Leona made sure to walk at least a mile a day, most commonly outside, even after she broke her hip and relied on a walker.
On October 2, 1937, Leona married Robert “Bob” Collins, who preceded her in death on May 21, 1979. Leona also had a longtime friend, Wayne Wilberg, with whom she enjoyed traveling via car, air and cruises; he preceded her in death in 1999.
She is survived by her son, Douglas R. Collins, of Westerville, OH; granddaughters Jennifer (Steve) Keutzer of St. Louis, MO and Heather (Adam) Kolp of New Albany, OH; great-grandchildren Hadley, Gretchen, Delaney and Addison Kolp and Sarah, Jonah, and soon to be born baby girl Keutzer.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Harold, Charles, and Earl Reynolds; and her sister Myrtlemae Phillips.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Patton Cemetery.
A time of visitation will be Tuesday, July 1, 2014 from 4-8 p.m at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center.
Memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church, 1225 Michigan Ave., La Porte, IN 46350.