Virginia Dare (Collins) Custard, age 93, passed away Saturday, December 18, 2010 at the Fairways of Brookline of liver cancer.
She had successfully battled major heart problems with the help of Dr. Keil and others for over thirty years.
She was born December 27, 1916, in Lensburg, Louisiana, a daughter of the late Everett Franklin Collins, Sr., and Lillian Margaret Dyer Collins.
Mrs. Custard was a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Science (Botany).
Virginia taught kindergarten, first and second grades in Prince George's County, MD in the 1950's and 60's.
She was of the Protestant faith.
She enjoyed doing all kinds of needlework, winning a national award from E.G.A., and serving as President of the Mount Nittany Area Embroiders Guild. She also enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and gardening.
She constructed an extensive natural rock garden in her backyard and worked with neighbors to beautify the entire community. She also had a lifelong enjoyment of dancing including square and ballroom dancing.
Virginia married her husband, Robert F. Custard, in 1964. They worked together for forty-five years to improve their home in College Heights.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Charles R. Horton (Sandra) of Cherry Hill, NJ, and James R. Horton (Betty Jo) of Signal Mountain, TN; one brother, Everett Franklin Collins, Jr. (Betty); one sister, Adele Cage; two half-sisters, Colleen Collins and Deborah Collins; five grandchildren, several great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Alan R. and Thomas R. Horton; her step-mother Helen Collins; three sisters, Shirley Vieux, Betty Jo Lutgens and Marian Repert; and a grandson Chad J. Horton.
Her number one love in life was her extensive family that was scattered throughout the country. She actively promoted the Collins family reunions for twenty-five years and authored a history of the ancestors and descendants of her grandmother, Sallie Francis Porter.
Virginia was a member of the Chancellor's Council at the University of Texas at Austin and the Mount Nittany Society at Penn State, in recognition of her charitable contributions to these Universities.
She has been cremated in accordance with her wishes and will be laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery.
A gathering and memorial service will be held from noon to 3:00 p. m. Saturday, April 23, 2011, in the faculty Staff Club Room of the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 West Park Ave., State College, PA