Grace Augusta Hoffman Collins – Military Spouse & Friend

From a contemporary press report:

Grace Augusta Hoffman Collins, 85, who taught at Patrick Henry Elementary School in Alexandria from 1956 to 1980, died of leukemia November 4, 2000 at her home in Alexandria, Virginia.

She was a native of Franklin Township, Pennsylvania, and an education graduate of what is now Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. She did graduate work at East Carolina University and the University of Virginia.

She taught at elementary schools in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and at a U.S. Army education center in Japan, where her husband was stationed, before settling in the Washington area in the mid-1950s.

She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alexandria.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, retired Army Captain Raymond L. Collins of Alexandria; a daughter, Kay Sharon Drzewiecki of Parachute, Colorado.; and a brother.

Burial was in Section 7, Grave 8193-LH, Arlington National Cemetery.

I am proud to have been able to call Grace Collins my friend.  She was a wonderful, bright and articulate woman who gave much back to her community through the children that she taught through the years.  She was also the best friend and soul-mate of one of the finest men that I have ever known, Ray Collins.  She was beside Ray for 58 years, during his military service and during his tenure with the Veterans Administration.  She was an inspiration to Ray during all of his efforts to help America remember its Medal of Honor recipients.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

Rest in peace, Grace.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard