James Collins

ST. JAMES, Mo. -- James Howard Collins of St. James, formerly of Cuba, Missouri, was born Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1918, at Berryman, Missouri, to the union of Perle and Hallie Gertrude Metcalf Collins and left from this life Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. at the Missouri Veterans Home of St. James at the age of 98 years.

James proudly served in the U.S. Navy from Jan. 30, 1942, until Oct. 12, 1953. James served during World War II and the Korean War. He earned the Victory Medal, American Area Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Japanese Occupation Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal and China Service Medal.

His unit, the USS Yorktown, received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action against enemy forces in the air, at sea and on shore in the Pacific War Area.

Before leaving for the Navy, James worked at Pete's Midway Motor Company in Steelville, Missouri. After returning home from the war, James went to work inspecting transformers for an electric company in St. Louis. On Feb. 11, 1981, after many years of dedicated service, James retired from Wagner Electric as a power-transformer tester.

James was married to Margaret A. Woods, and they were the proud parents of two sons, Howard and Harold. On Jan. 29, 1972, James married Mary Lou Nichols Trojanowski and became the stepfather of James "Jimmy."

After retiring, James and Mary Lou moved to Cuba. They always planted a garden each year.

James was a longtime St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.

James was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law and friend of many. He truly will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Perle and Hallie Collins; wives, Margaret and Mary Lou Collins; two brothers, Hadley and Delmar Lynton Collins; a sister, Maxine C. Petz; and other family and friends.

Those who are left to treasure his memory and to continue his legacy are his two sons, Howard J. Collins of Jackson and Harold J. and wife Laura Collins of Cape Girardeau; special niece and caretaker, Dorothy Collins of Steelville; stepson, James Floyd McMillen of Viburnum, Missouri; grandson, Alan Collins of Delta; granddaughter, Caylee Collins of Jackson; nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great-nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Mizell Funeral Home, 904 W. Washington St. in Cuba.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Pastor Don Martin officiating. Special recorded music will be "Further Along," "Amazing Grace" and "In the Garden." Interment, prayers and full military honors will follow at the Meramec Hills Cemetery in Cuba.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Missouri Veterans Home Residents Fund, 620 N. Jefferson St., St. James, MO 65559, in James' memory.

Online condolences may be left at mizellfh.com.