Billy Akins

Bill Akins, 86, of Waco, entered into eternal rest Friday, January 17, 2014. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, 2014 at Oakwood Cemetery followed by a 1:00 p.m. Memorial service at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church. A reception will be held in the church parlor immediately following the service. Visitation with Bill’s family will be 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd.

Bill was born November 27, 1927 in Hillsboro to Earl and Grace Glover Akins. He grew up in West, graduating from West High School in 1944. He served in WWII in the U.S. 5th Army as a Medical Technician, being honorably discharged in 1947. He earned an Associate of Arts Degree at Hill Junior College in 1948 and earned a BBA Degree at Baylor University in 1950. He married Martha Louise Amos on Friday, July 21, 1950 at First Baptist Church in Mart.

He was a business man, co-owner of a restaurant chain in Houston. He then moved to Centralia, Illinois where he and Martha owned and operated Bill Akins Pontiac, Inc. and affiliated businesses for several years before retiring and moving to Waco in 1980. In Centralia he was active in community affairs, President of Centralia Shrine Club, Captain of Beni Kedem Motor Patrol, and was honored 1973, Shriner of the Year. He was a member of the Centralia Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club, Airport Advisory Board, and Centralia United Methodist Church. Bill was an airplane pilot with an instrument rating.

Starting a second career in Waco, he was a Real Estate Broker, a member of the Waco Board of Realtors, Texas State Association of Realtors, and The National Association of Realtors. In 1988, He moved to Oklahoma City, OK and was a Realty Specialist at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). His office was on the seventh floor of the Alfred P. Murrah Building. In 1993, he retired again and moved back to Waco.

In Waco, he was a member of the Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, Pathfinders Class, and had served on The Administrative Board. He was a member of Waco Masonic Lodge 92, a 32nd Degree Mason in the Waco Scottish Rite Bodies, Karem Shrine, Charter Member and Past Commander of Karem Legion of Honor, Past Patron of McLennan Chapter 639 Order of the Eastern Star, The National Society of the Sons of The American Revolution Heart of Texas Chapter #26. He enjoyed flying, hunting, traveling, family activities, and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Grace Glover Akins; sister, Evelyn Akins Danielson; and brother, Frank Earl Akins.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Martha Louise Amos Akins; son, Douglas Dale Akins and wife, Linda Claire Heid Akins; daughter, Beverly Gayle Akins Mullen and husband, Kenneth Carl Mullen; grand-daughters, Laura Anne Mullen Wethor and husband, Christopher Daniel Wethor, Sarah Lynn Mullen; grandsons, Daniel Douglas Akins and wife, Sara Hattman Akins, Anthony Tristan Akins; great-grandchildren, Peter Daniel Akins, Jackson Connor Mullen, and unborn child William Christopher Wethor.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be: Daniel Akins, Anthony Akins, Christopher Wethor, William Kent Akins, Robert McAnulty, Thomas Waden, Allan Shurtleff, James Shurtleff, and Tyler Akins. Honorary pallbearers will be the Pathfinder Class at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a charity of your choice or to Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, 1300 Austin Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701.