Eugene Donald Adkins, age 73, of Columbia, S.C. died Sunday, July 20, 2014 at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care-Lenoir. He was born June 3, 1941 in Wake County to Loleta E. Stoudenmire Adkins of Lenoir and the late Charlie H. Adkins. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Carroll M. Laxton.
Mr. Adkins was retired with more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Military. He first served in the US Air Force Security Service, then joined the US Navy for a career in Aviation Electronics. He served aboard the USS Hornet off Vietnam; at the Naval Air Training Command, Weapons & Systems Testing, at Patuxent River, Maryland; with the HA(L)-3 Seawolf unit in Vietnam; aboard the USS Denver off Vietnam; aboard the USS Constellation and with HSL-31 Helicopter Antisubmarine unit, both out of San Diego; and with HSL-35 aboard the USS Chauvenete in the Indonesian Islands. After his military career, he completed a "Grand Tour" of the 48 states by motorcycle before settling in Columbia, SC, where he worked in environmental testing.
His lifelong interest in studying and collecting artifacts from the Civil War began in his teens and expanded to include the study of both World Wars, resulting in a knowledge of military history and armaments that exceeded most college professors'. Later, his "light" reading included cosmology and astrophysics as well. To the end, he was colorful, interesting, gruff and remarkably kind–although he would deny that last one. His friends and family will miss him deeply.
Survivors in addition to his mother include one sister, Evelyn A. Laxton of Lenoir; nephew David K. Laxton and wife Dessie of Durham; niece Laura L. Laxton and husband Stuart Egan of Winston-Salem; great-nephews Gregory Laxton and Malcolm Egan; and great-nieces McKenzie Egan and Alicia Laxton.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lenoir conducted by Dr. Bill Leathers. The family will receive friends after the service in the church parlor.
A gathering of friends will be held in Wilmington and military honors and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery, both at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to: Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645; or Friends of Fort Fisher, 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. South, Kure Beach, N.C. 28449.
Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com. Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Adkins was retired with more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Military. He first served in the US Air Force Security Service, then joined the US Navy for a career in Aviation Electronics. He served aboard the USS Hornet off Vietnam; at the Naval Air Training Command, Weapons & Systems Testing, at Patuxent River, Maryland; with the HA(L)-3 Seawolf unit in Vietnam; aboard the USS Denver off Vietnam; aboard the USS Constellation and with HSL-31 Helicopter Antisubmarine unit, both out of San Diego; and with HSL-35 aboard the USS Chauvenete in the Indonesian Islands. After his military career, he completed a "Grand Tour" of the 48 states by motorcycle before settling in Columbia, SC, where he worked in environmental testing.
His lifelong interest in studying and collecting artifacts from the Civil War began in his teens and expanded to include the study of both World Wars, resulting in a knowledge of military history and armaments that exceeded most college professors'. Later, his "light" reading included cosmology and astrophysics as well. To the end, he was colorful, interesting, gruff and remarkably kind–although he would deny that last one. His friends and family will miss him deeply.
Survivors in addition to his mother include one sister, Evelyn A. Laxton of Lenoir; nephew David K. Laxton and wife Dessie of Durham; niece Laura L. Laxton and husband Stuart Egan of Winston-Salem; great-nephews Gregory Laxton and Malcolm Egan; and great-nieces McKenzie Egan and Alicia Laxton.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lenoir conducted by Dr. Bill Leathers. The family will receive friends after the service in the church parlor.
A gathering of friends will be held in Wilmington and military honors and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery, both at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to: Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645; or Friends of Fort Fisher, 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. South, Kure Beach, N.C. 28449.
Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com. Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Eugene Donald Adkins, age 73, of Columbia, S.C. died Sunday, July 20, 2014 at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care-Lenoir. He was born June 3, 1941 in Wake County to Loleta E. Stoudenmire Adkins of Lenoir and the late Charlie H. Adkins. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Carroll M. Laxton.
Mr. Adkins was retired with more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Military. He first served in the US Air Force Security Service, then joined the US Navy for a career in Aviation Electronics. He served aboard the USS Hornet off Vietnam; at the Naval Air Training Command, Weapons & Systems Testing, at Patuxent River, Maryland; with the HA(L)-3 Seawolf unit in Vietnam; aboard the USS Denver off Vietnam; aboard the USS Constellation and with HSL-31 Helicopter Antisubmarine unit, both out of San Diego; and with HSL-35 aboard the USS Chauvenete in the Indonesian Islands. After his military career, he completed a "Grand Tour" of the 48 states by motorcycle before settling in Columbia, SC, where he worked in environmental testing.
His lifelong interest in studying and collecting artifacts from the Civil War began in his teens and expanded to include the study of both World Wars, resulting in a knowledge of military history and armaments that exceeded most college professors'. Later, his "light" reading included cosmology and astrophysics as well. To the end, he was colorful, interesting, gruff and remarkably kind–although he would deny that last one. His friends and family will miss him deeply.
Survivors in addition to his mother include one sister, Evelyn A. Laxton of Lenoir; nephew David K. Laxton and wife Dessie of Durham; niece Laura L. Laxton and husband Stuart Egan of Winston-Salem; great-nephews Gregory Laxton and Malcolm Egan; and great-nieces McKenzie Egan and Alicia Laxton.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lenoir conducted by Dr. Bill Leathers. The family will receive friends after the service in the church parlor.
A gathering of friends will be held in Wilmington and military honors and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery, both at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to: Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645; or Friends of Fort Fisher, 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. South, Kure Beach, N.C. 28449.
Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com. Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Adkins was retired with more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Military. He first served in the US Air Force Security Service, then joined the US Navy for a career in Aviation Electronics. He served aboard the USS Hornet off Vietnam; at the Naval Air Training Command, Weapons & Systems Testing, at Patuxent River, Maryland; with the HA(L)-3 Seawolf unit in Vietnam; aboard the USS Denver off Vietnam; aboard the USS Constellation and with HSL-31 Helicopter Antisubmarine unit, both out of San Diego; and with HSL-35 aboard the USS Chauvenete in the Indonesian Islands. After his military career, he completed a "Grand Tour" of the 48 states by motorcycle before settling in Columbia, SC, where he worked in environmental testing.
His lifelong interest in studying and collecting artifacts from the Civil War began in his teens and expanded to include the study of both World Wars, resulting in a knowledge of military history and armaments that exceeded most college professors'. Later, his "light" reading included cosmology and astrophysics as well. To the end, he was colorful, interesting, gruff and remarkably kind–although he would deny that last one. His friends and family will miss him deeply.
Survivors in addition to his mother include one sister, Evelyn A. Laxton of Lenoir; nephew David K. Laxton and wife Dessie of Durham; niece Laura L. Laxton and husband Stuart Egan of Winston-Salem; great-nephews Gregory Laxton and Malcolm Egan; and great-nieces McKenzie Egan and Alicia Laxton.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lenoir conducted by Dr. Bill Leathers. The family will receive friends after the service in the church parlor.
A gathering of friends will be held in Wilmington and military honors and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery, both at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to: Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645; or Friends of Fort Fisher, 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. South, Kure Beach, N.C. 28449.
Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com. Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
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