March 28, 2024

Thora Collins

Oct. 11, 2014

Thora Collins, 97, of Des Moines, died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, at Wesley Acres Retirement Home. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at Chamberlain Mansion at Wesley Acres, 3520 Grand Ave. in Des Moines.

Thora was born March 18,1917, to Reverend John A.E. and Agnes (Imus) Cunningham in Des Moines. She was a 1939 graduate of Simpson College. Thora worked in several government offices during WWII. She was an elementary school teacher in Des Moines for more than 30 years. She later worked at The Stationery Store and Bing’s Stationery Company before retiring in 1992. Thora served on the Simpson College Alumni Board and the Wesley Acres Guild. She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Des Moines where she was a member of the Builders Class for 60 years.

Thora is survived by her sons, Carl (Bobbie) Collins of Newton and Jerald (Melinda) Collins of Clive; grandchildren, Carla Kolpin of Newton, Laura Collins of Coralville, Brett Collins of West Des Moines and Tyler Collins of Clive; great-grandchildren, Lacy (Scott) Wadle of Carlisle, Joe (Katie) Kolpin of Newton, Courtney Kolpin of Urbandale and David Kolpin of Des Moines; great-great-grandsons, Ramsey Kolpin and Ryder Kolpin of Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents; and five siblings, Zella Ridenour, Giovanna Ries, John Cunningham, Jr., Burdene Baker and Jerald Cunningham.

Memorial contributions may be directed to First United Methodist Church in Des Moines.