Raymond C. Collins
Mr. Collins, 84, of Freehold, died Oct. 12, 2006, at home. Born in Freehold, he was a lifelong resident. Before his retirement, Mr. Collins was superintendent of buildings and grounds for the County of Monmouth. He was also employed at the former A&M Karagheusian rug mill, Freehold, and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received at the Battle of the Bulge. He was a former captain of Richardson Engine Company No. 2 of the Freehold Fire Department, where he served as a member from 1953 to 1968; a member of the Freehold Exempt Firemen’s Association; and a former member of the Fur, Fin and Feather Club, Freehold Township. Mr. Collins was predeceased by his wife, Sarah I. Collins, in 2005. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary R. and Kathleen Collins of Barnegat, and Kenneth G. and Judy Collins of Harrisburg, Pa.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Margaret Louise La Mel
Mrs. La Mel, 67, of Jackson, died Oct. 17, 2006, at home. Born in Neptune, she had resided in Freehold before moving to Jackson nine years ago. She worked for many years as a supervisor for the former Langeveld Bulb Co., which was located in the Freehold area. She was a member of the Jackson Estates Mobile Home Association. Mrs. La Mel was predeceased in 1993 by a son, Joseph Scott. Surviving are her husband of 45 years, David; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Debra La Mel of Wichita Falls, Texas; two daughters and a son-in-law, Debra La Mel of Freehold, and Donna and George Weiss of Brick; a brother, Leon Marter of Hightstown; a sister, Joan Tedesco of Florida; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
William A. Blackburn
Mr. Blackburn, 90, of Matawan, died Oct. 24, 2006, at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. He was born in Covington, Ky. He was employed at American Airlines for 33 years, retiring in 1979 as a reservations manager. Following retirement, he was a crossing guard at Raritan Valley School, Hazlet, and St. Benedict’s School, Holmdel. Mr. Blackburn served with the U.S. Marines in the Pacific theater of World War II in 1942. Following college, he was a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, and played with the Houston Texas League Class A Farm Team. Mr. Blackburn was predeceased by his wife of 31 years, Theodora Jurman Shea Blackburn, in 2000. He is survived by two daughters, Charlotte “Cheri” Donlin of Eugene, Ore., and Sandra Johnson of Honolulu; two stepsons and their wives, James and Elisabeth Shea of Matawan, and Thomas and Evelyn Shea of North Brunswick; a stepdaughter and her husband, Joanne and Frank Tourine of Millstone Township; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements were by Day Funeral Home, Keyport.