STARK — Robert “Bob” Charles Collins, 80, of Stark died Friday, June 25, 2010, at his home.

He was born April 1, 1930, the son of Oral and Dorothy (Richwine) Collins. He attended and graduated from Grant Township High School. He attended Neosho County Community College for a year.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950. He was inducted Jan. 8, 1951, and discharged Oct. 21, 1954. He served during the Korean War on Bairoko, an air craft carrier, with two tours of duty in the Yellow Sea from 1952 to 1953. He went through the hydrogen bomb testing in 1954 in the Marshall Islands. Two weeks after being discharged from the Navy he rented a farm and later purchased the farm where his wife of 44 years still resides.

He married Elissa A. Bruneau on Dec. 11, 1965, in Stark. He was a very well known farmer around Stark and the surrounding area. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Stark, and a member of the Chanute Cecil J. Meeker Post No. 1654 of Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also was a member of the National Rifle Association and a board member of the Bank of Commerce in Chanute for many years. He was an avid University of Kansas basketball fan and loved watching and keeping up with all high school sports.

Mr. Collins was preceded in death by his parents, Oral and Dorothy Collins.

Survivors include his wife, Elissa Collins of the home; a daughter, Deanna Quillen of Hugoton; three sons, Ricky Bruneau of Humboldt, Rusty Bruneau of Stark and Scott Collins of Drexel, Mo.; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Oralee Beggs of Stark; along with extended family and friends.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church in Stark with Pastors Pete Smith and Pauline Clugston officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Moriah Cemetery, where military rites will be given. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Stark.

Memorial contributions may be given to Stark Alumni or Grant Community Club, and sent in care of Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel.