Randall Caudill | Memoriam

Valda Fruit Collier (Class of 1940) passed away Thursday, April 4, 2019 in Columbia City at the age of 96. Valda was born June 2, 1922 in rural Packerton to Ruth (McFarren) Fruit and Frank Fruit.  In 1946 she married Charles Collier, and they shared 68 years of marriage before he passed away on April 22, 2014. A lifetime resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana, Valda and Charles started Collier Oil Company just outside of Pierceton in 1956, and they ran the company together until 1991.