Donald Leon Collins

Donald Leon Collins 93, of Kokomo, Indiana and Winter Haven,

Florida crossed peacefully into Glory from his daughter's home in

Fishers, Indiana on February 24th, 2017 at 4:00 pm .

Donald was born January 24th, 1924 to Clarence and Lelie

(Alexander) Collins in Kokomo, IN being the fourth and youngest

son born. His brothers, Ralph and William precede him in death

with brother Everett Collins of Kokomo surviving. He graduated

from Kokomo High School in 1942 and graduated General

Motors Institute, Flint, Michigan receiving a Bachelor of Science

in Industrial Engineering after his service in the Army Air Corp

during World War II. On July, 31 1946 he married the former

Lucille Templeton of Hamilton, Alabama and celebrated 64 years

of marriage prior to her passing in April of 2011.

Donald worked for Delco Electronics serving as Director of Work

Standards and later Director of Transportation responsible for

contracting and logistics in Asia and North America supplying

Delco's sub-assembly & assembly operations. Prior to retirement

Donald oversaw set up Foreign Trade Zones for General Motors'

first "maquiladoras" or cross border warehousing/assembly

operations in El Paso, Tx and McAllen Texas. Upon retirement

from Delco, Donald opened Donald L. Collins Associates, as a

trade consultant and advised and set up trades zones for Subaru

America in Lafayette IN and numerous airports and corporations

throughout North America.

Donald served on boards for the United Way, YMCA and Carefree

Country Club in Florida. He was an active member of New Life

Church also serving on the board and active member at Impact

Church, Lake Wales, FL. He enjoyed architecture/design having

designed and built his home on South Webster in Kokomo. He

was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling, southern gospel music,

gardening, attending auctions and spending time with his

children and grandchildren.

Donald was known for his kindness, fairness and easy going

nature but was quite passionate about property rights and city

planning.

Donald's children are Judith Collins Cardwell (1947 - 1995),

Joyce Mayes Bartels of Fishers Indiana and James Donald

Collins of Miami, Florida. Twelve grandchildren: Christopher

Cardwell of Indianapolis, IN, Geoff Cardwell of Merrilville, IN,

Jennifer Mayes of Dallas TX, Jonathan Mayes of Indianapolis, IN,

Jason Mayes of Stillwater, OK, Joseph Mayes of Indianapolis, IN, Jeffrey Mayes of Boston, MA, Joel

Mayes and Joanna Mayes of Indianapolis, Ethan Collins of

Pompano Beach, FL, Louisa Collins and Pierce Collins of Boca

Raton, FL, 10 great grandchildren and 15 nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday,

March 4th at New Life Church, 1803 East Vaile Ave, Kokomo

with Visitation preceding at 12:00 pm. Don's Pastors Randy

Blankenship and Don Gifford will preside. Burial will follow at

Albright Cemetery in Kokomo.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or

New Life Missions. Those wishing to sign Don’s guestbook may

do so at www.ellersmortuarywebster.com.