Sue Rita (Armstrong) Collins

Sue Rita Collins, 83, of  Vernon, passed away at her home on January 4, 2022, at 8:30 p.m.

Born October 6, 1938, in Jennings County, she was the daughter of the late Olin and Alta (Pierce) Armstrong. She married Teddy Lee Collins on April 26, 1958, at the New Bethel United Methodist Church; he preceded her in death on August 29, 1995.

After Sue graduated from high school, she went on to work for the Muscatatuck State Developmental Center in Butlerville for 32 years before her retirement. She also worked for the Vernon Township Advisory Board as secretary, for the Jennings County Senior Center as a secretary and cook, for Brownstown Speedway from 1967 until 1980 as a promoter, for Twin City Speedway from 1981 until 1989 as owner and from 2004 until 2006 and in 2014 as promoter, and for Lawrenceburg Speedway from 2007 until 2011. She was inducted into the Brownstown Speedway Hall of Fame in 2010 and in the Thunder Legions Hall of Fame in 2018. She was a member of New Bethel United Methodist Church and the Jennings County Senior Center, both in North Vernon. She enjoyed going to racetracks, Linda’s Log Cabin in Vernon, the beach, and casinos. She also enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her sons, Trent Lee (Debbie) Collins and Tory Lamar (Lisa) Collins, both of North Vernon; daughter, Tamara (Bruce) Arnold of Palmyra, Virginia; brother, Max (Sharon) Armstrong of North Vernon; grandchildren, Kelsie (Ville) Kohonen of Indianapolis, Tyler (Allie King) Collins of Elizabethtown, Trina Collins of North Vernon, and Taylor Arnold, Matthew Arnold, and Willow Arnold, all of Palmyra, Virginia; and great grandson, Tripp Collins of Elizabethtown.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Billy Armstrong; sister, Betty Johnson; sister in-law, Jane Armstrong; and brother in-law, Donald Johnson.

A funeral service for Sue will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Services in North Vernon with Rev. Connie Barr officiating. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, January 10, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Burial will be in the Vernon Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in honor of Sue through the funeral home to Mercy Rescue Jennings County. (Sharon and Max Armstrong)

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