Donald Wayne Collins

Donald Wayne Collins, 80, was born on June 6, 1942 to A.P. and Mildred (Reyer) Collins in Bald Knob (Liberty Valley), Arkansas. He left this world to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 17, 2023. Donald was a 1960 graduate from Bald Knob High School. He was on the boxing team and loved to tell that he never had a nose bleed. He was a captain on the football team where he was coached by Doyle Wallace and formed a lasting friendship with Jerry Freppon. He was voted Mr. BKHS and “cutest” by his fellow classmates. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served three years, including being stationed in Seoul Korea. Donald had participated in baseball his entire childhood including the American Legion. He continued his love of the sport by playing on the Army baseball team. While in Korea, he played on the Army’s fast pitch softball team and made the all-star team. Donald was a successful businessman in the community. He had many successful business ventures including farming with his father and brothers. He was the owner of Donald Collins General Contracting and Collins Pipeline until 2008. During this time, he employed numerous people in Bald Knob, White County, and other states. At one time, he employed over 400 people. After this, he continued to work as a chief inspector on the pipeline. He was a pilot and loved being in the air. He owned three airplanes in his lifetime and enjoyed flying to check on jobs and to Razorback games. In his later years, he also worked as an auxiliary police officer for the White County Sheriff’s Department. Church was an important aspect of Donald’s life. He accepted the Lord as his Savior in 1974 in Portland, Arkansas. He often assured his family he was prepared to go to heaven whenever the Lord chose to call him. He was a faithful member of Trinity Baptist Church in Bradford, Arkansas. He loved to study his Bible and had taught Sunday school for over 40 years. He desired for his last mission to be to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with everyone who had touched his life. Family was something very important to Donald. He could be found at ballgames of his grandchildren, no matter the sport. He went to birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and visited every chance he got. He encouraged his grandchildren to share his love of watching westerns. He was the best daddy and grandpa to his family, going above and beyond for them. He never hesitated to let each member know how much he loved them and how proud he was of each one. He was most proud that his family loved the Lord and would rejoice with him again someday. Donald was a friendly person who never met a stranger. He loved to talk and tell people about the Lord. He loved to “cut up," joke, and laugh. He could be found most days at Farmhouse visiting with friends and the staff, enjoying a bowl of brown beans and cornbread. Donald is preceded in death by his parents, A.P. Collins and Mildred (Reyer) Collins; a brother, Logan Collins, and a brother-in-law, Terry Carver. He is survived by his children, Monica Collins Roberts (Tim) and Dr. Derek Collins (Elizabeth); six grandchildren Mica Roberts Weis (Brendan), Brayden Roberts (Hannah Fisher), Gracey Collins Robinson (Sawyer), Mary Collins, Sadey Collins, and Kayla Roberts Burkett (Marcus); five great-grandchildren, Taten and Macksyn Weis and John Marc, Lillian, and Blair Burkett; one brother, Alfred Collins (Margaret), one sister Bessie Jean Carver and a sister-in-law, Linda Collins; seven nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and great-nephews; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 22, at 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Trinity Baptist Church in Bradford, Arkansas with the service immediately following. The service will be officiated by Dr. Derek Collins, Dr. Don Robinson, and Bro. Seth Robinson. Pallbearers will be Brayden Roberts, Steve Collins, Tommy Dunn, Brendan Weis, Phillip Miller, Don Davis, Sawyer Robinson (Honorary), Byron Thomason (Honorary), Brandon Wheeler (Honorary), Darrell Wolford (Honorary), and Larry Crosby (Honorary). Burial will be at Shady Grove Cemetery in Bald Knob, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Baptist Church in Bradford, Arkansas or Gethsemane Bible Institute in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Arrangements are entrusted to Bradford Memorial Funeral Home. www.bradfordmemorial.com.

Donald Wayne Collins

June 6, 1942 - May 17, 2023