James Atkins

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James Adkins

James A. (Deb) Adkins, 79, of Waco, TX, passed away at home on Sunday, September 18, 2005. He was a former resident of Eldon, Missouri and Marshalltown, Iowa.

Deb was born on December 23, 1925, near Dunbar, Iowa. He was the eighth of ten children born to James Thomas Adkins and Clara Jane Ralls Adkins.

He was educated in rural Marshall County schools. In 1944, he enlisted in the Army, then in 1946 he enlisted in the Air Force.

Serving with the 393rd Regiment Infantry, he saw action in Germany, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the Berlin Air Lift. He spent two years in Korea during the Korean War. He ended his service career in 1956 when he and his family moved to Marshalltown and he began his 35 year career as a long-haul truck driver.

Deb married his wife, Shirley Jeanne Eide, in Marshalltown on September 6, 1947. They had a long and loving marriage, recently celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor and his love of his family, friends and music.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Waco, TX; three children, Debbie (Mrs. Rick) Duhrkopf of Waco, Jim (Carol) Adkins of State Center, Iowa, and Steven (Tammi) Adkins of Joplin, Missouri. He has three grandchildren, Matt(Jennifer) Oetker, of Ankeny, Iowa, Keri (Mrs. Joseph) Lippe of Denton, Texas and Jaimie Adkins of State Center, nine step-grandchildren, A.J.(Mindy) Davis of Louisville, Kentucky, Lori Davis of Marshalltown, Tyler Freeman, Cara Freeman, Eric Campbell, Leta Hardee, Glen Hardee, Audrey Warden and Raedeana Warden all of Missouri, and four great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary Elsberry and Joan Wall, and one brother, Tom Adkins, all of Marshalltown.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Doris Cagwin, Gwen Wall, and Adeline Holthusen, and his brothers, Max Adkins, Bill Adkins, and Ray Adkins.