Lt. Colonel Evangeline Rose Lovegrove Collins

August 21, 1939 - January 8, 2023

Evangeline Rose was born August 21st, 1939, in Abertillery, Wales to George & Ruth Lovegrove who were Salvation Army Officers (ministers) serving overseas in India. She attended various programs within the Corps (church) and lived with her parents overseas in different parts of England until she reached the age of ten at which time they came to the United States where she attended school in Richmond, Virginia.

After graduation, she worked for a year before attending Asbury College with a Major in Christian Education and a Minor in Greek. During an Asbury College Band trip to the Atlanta Temple Corps she met William Collins. She had revealed during the youth councils that the Lord had called her to missionary service in Africa. She entered the School for Officers Training (seminary) in Chicago in 1961 after she graduated from Asbury, entering the " Servants of Christ " session.

Bill and Evangeline were married the day following her commissioning (ordination), on June 18, 1963, and they were appointed to the SFOT staff. She was Secretary to the SFOT Principal during that time. Following the birth of their daughter Melanie Lynn in 1964, the family set sail for England on the liner Queen Elizabeth I, the first leg of their journey to the Republic of the Congo. They served three terms. They were in charge of Kasangulu mission station and her husband was principal of the William Booth Teacher Training College and Corps Officers.

During their furlough back in the States, baby Angela Marie was born and they returned in 1967 to be in charge of The Salvation Army High School. After that third term, they then returned to the States in 1974 to the Central Territory.

They were appointed as pastors of the Detroit Brightmoor Corps. After two years, they were appointed to the Missouri/Kansas Division as Youth Secretary and Corps Cadet Counselor/Guard and Sunbeam leader. After they transferred to the Southern Territory in Atlanta, they enjoyed four years on the SFOT Staff as Curriculum Directors.

Bill and Evangeline served as officers in charge of Tupelo, Mississippi; Daytona Beach, Florida and then to Washington, D.C. Divisional Headquarters. Evangeline was the Assistant Home League Secretary. It was while in D.C. that the call came from General Eva Burrows for them to return to the People's Republic of the Congo where Evangeline was the Vice President of Women's Organizations and Social Secretary. This would be their fourth and fifth missionary journey. This time was the highlight of their service even though they faced turmoil as a revolution was taking place. They returned to the Territorial Headquarters in Atlanta where Evangeline served as Assistant to the Secretary of Personnel, Secretary for Congress Planning, and Director of Stewardship Services.

Their final appointments in 1997 were to the Adult Rehabilitation Centers Command as General Secretary and Assistant to the General Secretary. They both retired on December 2, 2002. They retired to Port Orange, Florida and have loved living there.

Surviving Lt. Colonel Evangeline Rose Collins are her loving husband of over 59 years, Lt. Colonel Williams Collins, daughters Melanie Owens and Angela Moller, and son-in-law John. God has blessed them with three beautiful grandchildren: William Christen, Jenny Christen, and Anna Moller as well as a host of family and friends.

There will be no public service. Evangeline's final wish was that "people would plant something beautiful in their gardens as a remembrance of me."

" Well done thou good and faithful servant ." Matt. 25:21 KJV

A life well lived

Condolences may be sent to:

Lt. Colonel Williams Collins

715 HiView Circle, Port Orange, FL 32127

Email: billlovesegypt715@gmail.com