Blanche Elizabeth (Few) Collins

Mrs. Blanche Louise Collins was born November 14, 1928 in Bluefield, West Virginia. She was the youngest of four children born to Herman and Ceola Few. Blanche was raised in Bluefield, along with her siblings, Herman Jr., Edna Carol and Lowell. Blanche graduated from Genoa High School, in Bluefield, and went on to receive her undergraduate degree in Home Economics from West Virginia State University in Institute, West Virginia. Venturing outside of Bluefield and away from her close knit family for the first time, Blanche blossomed as a student and grew as a young woman. Upon her graduation from West Virginia State University, Blanche moved to the Dayton, Ohio area to live with her big sister Edna Carol. It was in Dayton, in the year 1951, where she met her husband George Milton Collins at her 23rd birthday party. George was a recent graduate of Tuskegee University in Alabama and a navigator in the United States Air Force. He had been stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. It was love at first sight and after only six months of dating, George proposed. They married in 1952 at the Wright-Patterson Air Force chapel. Their union produced three children, twin sons Reginald and Ronald, and daughter Cleo. Due to George’s career in the military, they lived in various places in the U.S. and in Europe, including San Antonio, Texas; Winter Park, Florida; Cardington, England; Moses Lake, Washington; Mountain Home, Idaho; and Cleveland, Ohio. In 1970, George was stationed at Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio. That was the last base he was stationed at before he in retired in 1971. Blanche had lots of family in the Columbus area, which made the transition much easier. She joined Asbury North United Methodist Church and was a devoted member for over 45 years. She loved her church family, actively participated in Sunday worship services, and served as a communion stewardess as well as on various committees. Altogether, she taught elementary school for more than 30 years. The last 23 years, she spent teaching first grade at Hamilton South Elementary in Columbus. Looking upon Mrs. Collins as a mother figure, many of her students stayed in touch with her over the years and she stayed engaged with them as they grew and progressed to each stage of their life. Blanche was also a member of the Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for 28 years. She joined the same sorority as her aunts, Etienne and Elsie, sister Edna Carol and daughter Cleo had done previously. Blanche really enjoyed participating in sorority initiatives and marveled in the opportunity to jointly do this with her sister and daughter. At the age of 84, Blanche took the trip of her lifetime with members of her church family and her daughter Cleo. They spent 17 days touring the world in such destinations as Rome, Florence and Venice, Italy; London, England; Paris, France; Lucerne, Switzerland; and Athens, Greece. This was an amazing feat for Blanche and she was determined to go on this vacation and to finish the trip. She was a joyful woman and so full of life, everyone took great pleasure in seeing her enjoy the trip of her dreams. In 2013, The Blanche L. Collins Scholarship Fund was established to honor her lifelong commitment to instilling the importance of education in the lives of young people. She knew the value of a college education and wanted to help our youth with limited financial resources. The fund grants scholarships to high school seniors and undergraduate students in Columbus, Ohio and Bluefield, West Virginia to help them achieve their dreams. Each year, she would receive letters from the scholarship recipients, expressing their heartfelt gratitude. It would warm her heart that she was able to help these students pursue their college degree. On January 20, 2016, Blanche L. Collins departed this life to be with the Lord in her heavenly home. She was predeceased by her parents, Herman Few, Sr. and Ceola Few, brother Lowell, and sister Edna Carol. She leaves to cherish her memory and legacy, her husband of 63 years, George Milton Collins; twin sons Reginald and Ronald (Paula) Collins; daughter Cleo (Robert) Jones; brother Herman Few, Jr.; grandchildren, Masai Collins, Jamin Collins, Vanessa Collins, and Austin Jones, all whom she loved dearly, along with a host of extended family and friends whom she also adored and loved. Blanche will be greatly missed by her family, friends and church family. To ensure her legacy of education and service continues, please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Blanche L. Collins Scholarship Fund, Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation. Checks can be mailed to 602 Main Street, Suite 1000, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202; or, on the CSF website: www.cincinnatischolarshipfoundation.org.