Juanita Mae Collings

Juanita Mae Collings, age 97, of Evans, Georgia, passed away peacefully in her place of residence on March 13, 2024. She was born to Phillip and Mary (Lowe) Schaile on September 12, 1926, in Akron, Ohio. She graduated from North High School in 1944. She was a stenographer-clerk in Dept. 0615, Fleet Tire Maintenance in Akron, Ohio. She was crowned Miss Firestone for her beauty inside and out. One of her favorite forms of recreation was dancing. She was a member of a women’s golf league and bowling league. She met Dean Merideth on a blind date while he was home from the Navy. She married him on June 8, 1946. They moved to Washington, Indiana in October 1958 residing at 218 NE 10th St until the final home was built at 23 Coronado Drive. She became very active in the Ladies Day Golf and Bridge Club winning many golf trophies and awards in both golf and bridge. She had started playing bridge at the age of 15 from watching the neighbor ladies. The ladies taught her to play and she would play it until her passing. She was active with the Arts and Flowers Garden Club which was to beautify Washington, serving as President for a term. One of her loves was the Beta Zeta Chapter of Tri Kappa Sorority serving as President during their 50 Golden Years Celebration and serving as Co-Chairman of the Province One Convention. The LOVE Bowling League (Ladies Of Various Experiences) was second nature to her as she played weekly. She was in the Hospital Pink Ladies Auxiliary (Charter Member) and help start the Candy Stripers. She was very active in Community Concert serving as Membership Chairman and Division Chairman. As a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, she sang in the church choir, was a Youth Fellowship Sponsor and Church Secretary for many years. She was widowed on August 2, 1975. She stayed active in the Crane Area Council Navy League becoming Secretary and presenting awards to NJROTC candidates. She was the Office Administrator of The Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards before moving to Indianapolis. After moving to Indianapolis, she took a job as Executive Assistant in the Personnel Department of Bank One. She stayed active in Tri Kappa Sorority, the Delta Psi Chapter, becoming President again. She played in bridge clubs where she met Dorothy Van Brunt. Dottie introduced Juanita to her nephew, Dr. Harold Collings and the two of them hit it off immediately. She married Dr. Harold (Hal) Collings Jr on July 14, 1990 (Bastille Day) and moved to Fripp Island, South Carolina. Juanita stayed an avid golfer and bridge player. Hal, already a Life Master and Bronze Life Master, wanted his bride to become one too. They went to many bridge tournaments and cruises with tournaments to earn those points. She did become a Life Master and then her Bronze Life Master. They also took many pleasure cruises including the maiden voyage of the Queen Elizabeth II. They moved from Fripp Island to Dataw Island and she took up croquet which was quite different than the family backyard kind. She was widowed again in June 2009. She was an excellent chef and baker. Juanita was a kind-hearted person, she was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and GG. She loved traveling, spending time with family and friends creating lasting memories that will be cherished forever. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband(s) Dean Merideth and Dr. Harold Collings Jr, son-in-law Russell Coleman of Appling, GA, sister Nadine (Garth) Flittner of Sandusky, OH, sister Phyllis (Richard) Boike of Uniontown, OH, and one nephew, Robert Flittner of Sandusky, Ohio. Juanita is survived by her son Mark (Cindy) Merideth of Hoffman, IL, daughter Deanna (Merideth) Coleman of Appling, GA, grandchildren Adrienne (Travis Bottles) Moorhead of Sandoval, IL, Dean (Vandora) Steiner of Stockbridge, GA, Dana Steiner of Appling, GA, great-grandchildren Nicholas Howerton of Centralia, IL, Ethan and Avery Moorhead of Sandoval, IL, and Kaiden and Charlie Steiner of Stockbridge, GA, Dear friends Bill and Sarah (Trousdale) Sandage of Lexington, KY, brother-in-law Richard Bloke of Uniontown, OH, nephews Jeff (Mary) Boike of Mundelein, IL, Brad (Ellen) Boike of Kingwood, TX, Shawn Boike of Cleveland, OH, and great niece and nephews. Graveside services will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Washington, Indiana on June 8, 2024.The Celebration of Life will follow the services. Donations can be made in her name to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 or michaeljfox.org