Glen Eldon Adkins, 75, Malvern
Glen Eldon Adkins died at his home in Malvern on Aug. 14, 2009. Graveside services were held at the Malvern Cemetery on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Rev. Carl Phillips of Malvern United Methodist Church officiated. Military Honors provided by Harry Hammons Post 520 of the American Legion, Malvern. Taps by Gordon Woodrow.
The third son of Thomas Carlisle and Emma Opal (Davis) Adkins, he was born in Elliott, on Dec. 13, 1933. He was baptized at the Methodist Church in Elliott. He attended grade school in Elliott and in 1946, the family moved to Malvern. That same year, his mother died on Nov. 23. He attended school in Malvern and graduated from high school in 1951. He then attended Tarkio College in Tarkio, Mo., where he served as student body president, and received his bachelor’s degree in 1955. Mr. Adkins returned to teach in the Malvern schools for one year before serving in the U. S. Army. He was assigned to Eighth Army Headquarters in Seoul, Korea, and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal as administrative assistant to the Eighth Army Chaplain.
Following his military career, he returned to Malvern to resume his teaching career and continued his education during the summers and evenings at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, receiving both a master’s and specialist’s degree. During his teaching tenure in Malvern, he was also the junior high principal, the junior high football, basketball, and track coach, and taught Sunday School at the United Methodist Church. After teaching in Malvern a total of five years, he moved to the Nishna Valley Schools as elementary principal. After five years at Nishna Valley, he joined the Shenandoah Schools as director of elementary education, coordinator of special education, and director of federal programs for the district. He also kept the statistics for the Shenandoah football and basketball games for years. He retired in 1992 after 25 years in the Shenandoah Schools. While in Shenandoah, he was active in the Kiwanis Club and served as president. He served on the Advisory Committee of the National Child Safety Council, was on the Youth Committee of the Page County Red Cross, and was named “Friend of Youth” by the Shenandoah Optimist Club. Additionally, he was the only person to be honored as “Outstanding Administrator and Educator” by the membership of the Shenandoah Education Association.
Following the death of his father in 1963, he provided assistance and support for his stepmother, Ruth Adkins, so she could continue to live in her home in Malvern until her death in 1992, at the age of 97. After retirement, Mr. Adkins worked at Hertz Funeral Homes, served on the Board of the Low Rent Housing Agency, and was the financial secretary for the Malvern United Methodist Church. He enjoyed making minor repairs around his home, painting, and helping neighbors and friends with yard work and scooping walks. He also enjoyed keeping in contact with friends and former coworkers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother. He is survived by his brothers, John Adkins of Carthage, Ill., Bryce Adkins of Layton, Utah; three nephews, other relatives; several good neighbors and many friends in the Malvern, Nishna Valley, and Shenandoah communities.
Memorials suggested to the Malvern Volunteer Rescue Unit or Malvern Volunteer Fire Department. Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home of Malvern was in charge of arrangements.