Joseph M. Collins, Jr

Joseph M.  Collins, Jr., 89 of Cambridge, passed away at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge on Thursday November 13, 2008. He was born in Cambridge on May 12, 1919, and was a son of the late Joseph Marion and Eva Jones Collins, Sr. He was born in Cambridge and had attended schools here. In the 1930's he was a Maryland State Champion Runner for a number of years. He joined C Company 115th Infantry, 29th Division on January 27, 1940. He mustered into Federal Service on February 3, 1941 and was shipped overseas in October of 1942. While serving in the U.S. Army he served in Belgium, participated in the Battle of the Bulge, also landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day and was wounded on July 15th going into St. Lo, France. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Infantryman's Badge (Combat), Bronze Star, three Battle Stars, the Good Conduct Medal as well as the European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon with a Bronze Arrowhead and a Distinguished Unit Badge. He was Honorably Discharged as a Platoon Sergeant in October of 1945. Joe was married to the former Clara Wall in England on May 26, 1945. After his military service he had worked at Dean's Furniture in Cambridge and later worked for many years at the Dorchester Co. Board of Education in maintenance. Joe was a member of Zion United Methodist Church in Cambridge, Dorchester Post # 91 American Legion and also the 29th Division Assoc. and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans. Joe had been a resident at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge since March 11, 2005 where he passed away on Thursday morning.

Survivors include his wife Clara W. Collins of Cambridge, one sister Florence Wanerus of Ft. Collins, Colorado, a sister in law Betty Wall of Cambridge, three nieces and three nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister Priscilla Conway and a brother Emory Collins.

A funeral service will be held on Monday afternoon at 1:00 PM at the Thomas Funeral Home in Cambridge with the Rev. Samuel H. McWilliams officiating. Interment will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park. The family will receive friends during the hour preceding the service. Pallbearers will be members of the 29th Division Assoc. Memorial contributions may be made to Endowment Fund of Zion United Methodist Church, 612 Locust Street, Cambridge, MD 21613 or Post 88 of the 29th Division Assoc., c/o Luke H. Messick, Jr., 406 Talbot Avenue, Cambridge, MD 21613.