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© Stillwater News
Press Stillwater, Oklahoma January 2003 W. Opal [Eastep] Collins November 15, 1908 ~ January 9, 2003 Opal Eastep Collins, 94, Stillwater, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, in the Renaissance. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church. Dr. William S. Inglish will officiate. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Collins was born Nov. 15, 1908, in Yeager, to James T. and Martha [Carol] Eastep. She was a graduate of Stillwater High School and Oklahoma State University. In 1933, Collins received an elementary education degree from Oklahoma A&M College and began a career in education by teaching in the public schools of Quay and Wilburton. She married Cleo A. Collins Dec. 23, 1934, in Perry. He died Nov. 5, 1980. She established Kollins Kiddie Kollege in 1952 in Stillwater and operated the school until her retirement in 1995. During the period from 1952 until 1995, over 4,100 children attended the school. She received numerous awards and honors in recognition of her dedicated service to children and the community. In 1992, Collins was recognized for devotion and contribution to the education of young children during the Week of the Young Child. In 1993, she received the Opal Collins award, sponsored by the Payne County Association for Children Under Six and the Rainbow Day Care Center. In 1996, she was nominated for the Friends of Children Award, sponsored by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. She was named Business Woman of the Year by the Business and Professional Women's Club in 1997 and inducted into the Oklahoma State University College of Education Hall of Fame. In the late 1960s, Collins and her husband established the C&O club, which stood for Cleo and Opal. The membership consisted of over 40 couples and as a travel club they traveled throughout the world. An Oklahoma State University Agriculture Education Scholarship and FFA Foundation Scholarship Awards program was established by former students of Cleo and Opal Collins, and has been active for over 20 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church. She is preceded in death by her husband. Collins is survived by her two sons, C.A. Collins, Chattanooga, and John Collins, Midland, Texas; and daughter, Joy Welker, Centennial, Colo.; two brothers, Oren Eastep, Chickasha, and Woodrow Eastep, California; and sister, Tiny Dill, Tulsa; 12 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Ralph Dreessen, Wes Watkins, Joe Raunikar, Bret Welker, Scott Welker, Colby Collins, Harry Askew and Scott Collins. Honorary pallbearers are Mark Welker, Lance Welker, Jeff Crowe, Greg Crowe and C&O Club members and former students. Those wishing to give donations may make them to the Oklahoma State University Scholarship Education Foundation, c/o Opal Eastep Collins Scholarship Trust or the charity of their choice. |
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