Thomas Adkins' Obituary
Thomas Edward Adkins, son of Terry Anderson and Edna Frances Stewart Adkins, was born July 3, 1929 in Lesterville, Missouri. He was taken by our Lord to his Heavenly home on May 12, 2012 at the age of eighty-two years, ten months, and nine days.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Louise Shropshire, Erlene Stark, and Lois Maraman; an infant sister, Frances Elaine and an infant brother John A. Adkins.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Virginia; two sons, Edward Adkins of Wichita, Kansas and Jim Adkins, of Wichita, Kansas; two grandchildren, Emily Swartzkopf and husband Mark of Hutchinson, Kansas and Christopher Adkins of Baltimore Maryland; three great-grandchildren, Isaac, Ethan, and Collin; one sister, Janice Bass of Kansas City, Missouri; many nieces, nephews, a host of other family members and many friends.
Thomas moved with his family to Wright County in 1935 and he attended Little Creek School. Later the family moved to the Pea Ridge Community and he attended school there until moving to San Francisco, California where his father was employed during the war years. Returning from California, he attended Mansfield High School. Thomas met and married Virginia Land on November 18, 1949. To his union two sons were born. “Tommy”, or “Tom”, as many people called him, enjoyed many things in his life. His collection of antique cars, traveling, country music, and watching western movies, mowing the lawn, and feeding the birds in both winter and summer. He enjoyed his pets, especially his cat “Miss Kitty”. His work in life involved many jobs; he gave up a period of his grade school term to help work for the family. In his teen years he worked as a farm hand which included many jobs, one of which was driving a truck. He continued driving for a lumber company after he and Virginia were married.
He was a good mechanic and in 1951 Thomas and his family moved to Wichita, Kansas where he worked for Beech Aircraft and Boeing Aircraft. Tom retired from Boeing in 1984. In 1994, Tom and Virginia returned from Kansas and lived the Country Life on their farm in Marshfield, Missouri.
Thomas professed his faith in Christ early in his life and was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church.
Thomas was a caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and accomplishments and will treasure the many wonderful memories he has created for his family and dear friends. He truly will be missed by many.
Funeral services will be at 11 am Monday May 14, 2012 in Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Hartville, Missouri, with visitation at 10 am prior to the service, in the Funeral Home.
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