Obituary for Velma Collins

Velma Collins

(July 29, 1927 – December 8, 2016)

Velma (Franks) Collins, 89, of Ponca City, OK passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 8, 2016.

Velma was born to the late Myrl B. (Butler) and George W. Franks, near Schlegal, OK on July 29, 1927 at the height of the Great Depression. During Velma’s childhood her father did many jobs from running a store to picking cotton, working building the railroad and various jobs. Times were very challenging for her family but Velma was able to attend Schlegal Grade School after her brother Jewel saved money and purchased a pair of shoes for her. Later, she graduated from Yale High School in 1944 while coaching and tutoring her brother Vernon in order that he was able to graduate with her.

On January 10, 1946 she married Richard Lee Collins, her former classmate and high school sweetheart in Stillwater Oklahoma while he was on leave from the US Navy. After discharge from the Navy Richard and Velma managed a cafe in Alva and Richard taught at Northwestern Oklahoma State college in Alva, until moving to Ponca City where Richard worked for Continental Oil company and Velma worked for Southwestern Bell, they raised four children and shared life’s journey with all its twists and turns for fifty-three years. Velma was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 30 years, she worked in Ponca City, Ok, Houston, Tx and Okmulgee, Ok as a Telephone Operator, Managerial Secretary, Frame Attendant (the first woman to have the job) and Estimate Assigner. She and Richard retired to a farm north of Newkirk, OK and tended a variety of livestock there in between trips to their beloved Colorado, in addition they were hired as some of the first rural Meter Readers for Kay Electric Cooperative, she said about their meter reading experience, “that was the most fun they had ever had”. Richard and Velma were long time members of Eastern Heights Christian Church in Ponca City, Ok. Not one to sit still, Velma did enjoy traveling, reading, gardening, quilting, knitting, and spending time with her ever expanding family. Velma was constantly an inspiration to her family with her industrious personality, she was the perfect example of the Proverbs 31 woman, working full time, sewing clothing for her family and cooking many delicious meals, Thanksgivings were always a masterpiece in her hands! In her later years she cared for Richard as he went through the stages of Alzheimer’s, staying with him always.

Velma was preceded in death by Husband, Richard, a Son-in-Law, Jim Casey, one grandson, James (Ron) Casey, her parents, two brothers, Jewel and Vernon Franks and Sisters-in-law, Dorothy Franks, Wanda (Collins) Richardson, Mary (Collins) Lawrence and Brothers-in-law Troy Robison, Jerry Lawrence, and Lance Richardson.

Velma is survived by her earthly reward of a large and flourishing family: daughter Carol and husband Dave Fairhurst of Ponca City, OK, one son, Irl and his wife Carol Collins of Skiatook, OK, daughter Lorna and her husband Lane Mercer of Ponca City, OK and daughter Connie and husband Larry ‘Joe’ Smith II of Haysville, KS, as well as eight grandchildren, Jenifer (Eddie) Light, Joanna (Brock) Powers, Lori (Brent) Brandt, Brenda (Mike) Womack, Camron (Bryann Booth) Kimbrel, Luke (Anna) Boyett, Cody Brookshire and Zach Medina-Collins, seventeen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Leola Robison and sister-in-law Jeanne Franks as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am on Monday, December 12, 2016 in the Trout Funeral Home Chapel in Ponca City with her son in law Lane Mercer officiating. Following the ceremony she will be laid to rest next to her husband Richard at Longwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Grandsons.

The family would especially like to thank the staff of Creekside Village Assisted for their constant, attentive treatment; Hospice of North Central Oklahoma caretakers, for their excellent work and loving care; and the Trout Funeral Home, for making the arrangements.

Source: Trout Funeral Home