John R. Adkins, 78, of Ironton, passed away Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky.
The Morgan County, Ky. native was born March 1, 1931, the son of the late Charles Adkins and Rosie Lee Elliott Adkins Smith McFann. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Roberts Adkins, whom he married Aug. 5, 1958, and with whom he renewed his wedding vows Nov. 20, 2009.
Mr. Adkins attended Waterloo School and was a former steel worker for California Industrial Products where he was a foreman. He was a member at the Palestine Missionary Baptist Church in Waterloo and loved farming crops, fishing, Kentucky basketball and spending time with the family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn Ann Adkins; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Joe McKenzie; a brother, Albert Adkins and two sisters-in-law, Kay Smith and Carolyn Adkins.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four daughters and three sons-in-law, Barbara and Bill Allen of Ironton, Brenda Benicker and Danny Sexton of Willow Wood, Mary and Delano Bryant of Scottown, and Gina and Larry Sexton of Kitts Hill; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Charles Adkins of Ironton and Joseph and Cassandra Adkins of Gilbertsville, Ky.; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Edna and Curt Richter of Bonita Springs, Fla., Ethel and Dan Murdock of Miraloma, Calif., and Avis and Bill Kuhfal of Council Bluffs, Iowa; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Beecher and Marilyn Adkins of Omaha, Neb., Harold and Carol Smith of Raymond, Neb., James Smith of Ironton, and Emory and Paula Smith of South Charleston, W.Va.; and special friends, Kenny and Michelle Napier and family, and Pearl Thompson.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Phillips Funeral Home, with Minister Jim Williams and Pastor Jonathon Goodman officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.