Jack Walton Akins Sr. who lived gracefully with cancer for 3 years was lifted by the loving arms of Jesus Christ from his earthly home on Saturday, July 17th, 2010.He was surrounded by his loving wife and children.
He is preceded in death by his parents, three siblings Ray Akins, Polly Capps and Walter Akins Jr., as well as a granddaughter Sheena Nicole Parker, and great-granddaughter Madyson Avery Akins.
He is survived by his wife Alma LoRene Akins of Denton, Texas; daughter Julia LoRene (Akins) Clark and her husband Nick Clark, granddaughter Lisa Clark and great-grandson Drake Clark all of Bethesda, Maryland; son Jack “Bud” Walton Akins Jr. and his wife Connie Akins of Dale, Oklahoma, and granddaughter Summer (Parker) Lily and her husband Cody Lily and great-granddaughter Peyton Nicole Lily of Shawnee, Oklahoma, grandson SSG Bryan David Akins (U.S. Army Ret.) and his wife Jessica Akins and great-grandson Bryson Alexander Akins of Wichita, Kansas, granddaughter Savannah (Parker) Berry and her husband Derek Berry and great-grandson Eli Lane Berry of Midwest City, Oklahoma; son Timothy Paul Akins and wife Debbie (Dennington) Akins of Highland Village, Texas; granddaughter Laura (Akins) Cooper and her husband SGT Billy Shane Cooper, and great-granddaughters Julia Isabel Cooper and Kate Raquel Cooper of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and grandson Andrew Paul Akins of Denton, Texas, as well as several other family members and friends.
Services celebrating the life of Jack Akins will be held at United Methodist Church of Argyle, Texas on Wednesday July 21st at 2 PM and the family will receive guests at their home at 9129 Grandview from 4-6 p.m..A second service will be held at University Baptist Church of Shawnee, Oklahoma on Friday July 23, 2010 at 2 p.m.
Honorary Pallbearers are Drake Clark, Cody Lily, Bryan Akins, Derek Berry, SGT Shane Cooper (currently serving in Operation Enduring Freedom) and Andrew Akins.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to United Methodist Church of Argyle, Texas or Habitat for Humanity.
Date of Birth: September 19, 1934
Date of Passing: July 17, 2010
Laid to rest at: N/A
Pastor’s Church: University Baptist Church
City: Argyle
Pastor’s Biography:
Jack was born Sept. 19, 1934 north of Shawnee to Bertha (Johnson) and Walter Alexander Akins Sr., who were sharecroppers. He was the youngest of his two brothers and two sisters, Ray Akins, Polly Capps, Grace Wallis, and Walter Akins Jr. He graduated from Bethel High School in 1950. Upon graduating he served in the U.S. Air Force.
In 1954, Jack met Alma LoRene Seckel at the Blackberry Festival in McLoud. They were married at a ceremony at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Shawnee on January 21, 1955 and had three children, Julia LoRene Akins, Jack “Bud” Walton Akins Jr., and Timothy Paul Akins. In 2005, Jack and LoRene were honorary grand marshals at the McLoud Blackberry Festival Parade commemorating their 50th wedding anniversary.
He received Bachelors degree in Speech from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1958, earned his Masters in Counseling from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Kansas City) in 1962, and completed his Ed D in Occupational and Adult Education with a specialty in Human Resources Development in 1983 from Oklahoma State University. Quite literally a “Jack of all trades”, he had a wide ranging variety of careers including teacher, pastor, Job Corps Officer, FAA instructor, Pottawatomie County Commissioner and golf cart master extraordinaire. He possessed a natural curiosity that prompted his continual learning and a gracious nature that often brought others along for the ride.
Jack was also a member of several clubs and enjoyed collecting and distributing golf balls to his friends and neighbors as well as making an annual “Polar Bear Plunge”. He will also be remembered for his storytelling abilities.
