Collins, Wilma Mae

Wilma Mae Collins, 89, of 109 Sand Lane NW, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital after a long illness. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, by Pastor Craig Peters. Burial: 2:30 p.m., Dumont Cemetery, Dumont. Friends may visit Monday at Teahen Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. and Tuesday at the church from 9 to 9:45 a.m.

Wilma is survived by her husband, Lee Roy; two daughters, Virginia Collins of Aurora, Ill., and Linda Collins of Elkader; a son, Keith (Elizabeth) of Waverly; four grandchildren, Amy (Walter) Delaney of Lake Villa, Ill., Jess (Amy) Collins of Malta, Ill., Brian (Deborah) Collins of Durham, N.C., and Jeanette (Adam) Scharnhorst of Oelwein; seven great-grandchildren, Sean, Alex, Kyle, Emma, Peyton, Sophie and Lucy; and a brother, Darwin (Frances) Ebling of Greene.

Wilma was preceded in death by her brother, Warren Ebling.

Wilma was born Oct. 7, 1922, near Aredale, the daughter of Harold and Florence (Dye) Ebling. She graduated from Aredale High School and married Lee Roy Collins on Nov. 9, 1941, at her home near Aredale.

Wilma dedicated her life to serve others in the United Methodist Church, serving as her husband's right hand woman at the various churches he was assigned to as pastor. She was very musical and enjoyed playing the piano and organ for church services.

She dearly loved her family and was a great wife, mother, and grandmother.

A memorial fund has been established for St. Mark's United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

Published Jan. 7, 2012, in The Gazette