Doyle E. Collins

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Doyle E. Collins of Arkadelphia, Ark., passed away on Thursday (Aug. 25, 2016).

Born in Sharp County, Ark., on Sept. 9, 1928, Mr. Collins graduated from Ash Flat High School and then attended Arkansas College (Lyon College) where he played basketball and baseball until enlisting in the Air Force during the Korean War.

He came back from the service and earned his undergraduate degree from Arkansas State Teachers College (University of Central Arkansas). He went on to earn a master's degree in math from the University of Illinois. He also continued advanced study programs in science and math at both the University of Cincinnati and Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.).

His career of 50-plus years in education included teaching math and serving as an administrator and basketball coach. Four of his players from Royal, Ill., would go on to earn athletic scholarships in the Big 10. His coaching impact was such there is an endowed basketball scholarship named for Mr. Collins at the University of Illinois.

Mr. Collins married Charlene Shell in 1950.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Andrew and Minnie Worel Collins; five brothers, Oleus, Elijah, Wylie, Commodore and T.A.; and four sisters, Pleasant, Beulah, Audrey and Doris.

Survivors include his wife, Charlene; his son, Andrew "Ace" Collins; daughter-in-law, Kathy Collins; grandsons, Clint and Rance; great-granddaughter, Aidan; as well as thousands of former students and many friends.

Mr. Collins was a Baptist and a member of First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. He was a Mason.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family asks that Mr. Collins be remembered through donations to the Shelby Seabaugh Scholarship Fund at Ouachita Baptist University, Ouachita Development Office, OBU Box 3754, Arkadelphia, AR 71998.

Mr. Collins' services will be held at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia, Ark., at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. A private burial will take place in Salem, Ark.

An online register is available at www.ruggleswilcox.com.