Memorial services will be held for Terry Allen Adkins, 80, of Chickasha, Friday, October 28, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. in the Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel in Chickasha, Oklahoma with Bob Gordon officiating.
Terry Allen Adkins passed quietly on October 10, 2016, after a long illness. Terry was born in Van, West Virginia to Wetzel “Beau” and Opal Adkins. In 1958, he married Sarah Roberts, who stole his heart when he realized she was not, in fact, attempting to steal his Pepsi truck. The couple had five children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Terry served in the U.S. Air Force as an armament electronics specialist, and his wizardry for fixing things was evident as he repaired engines, remodeled houses, and coaxed failing electronics back to life over the years. Graduating from USAO with a degree in Business Administration, he worked as a Purchasing Manager for several years, including serving at Maremont Corporation in Chickasha and GF Furniture in Nashville, Tennessee. Terry was an avid gardener and skilled fisherman. He passed his strong work ethic and love of reading to his children. The family would like to thank the Chickasha Public Library for indulging T.A.’s voracious reading appetite, and kindly overlooking a few late charges here and there.
Terry is preceded in death by his parents, Beau and Opal Adkins.
He is survived by his sister Bea Hylbert and husband Bob of Delaware, and his brother Steve Adkins and wife Jane of Alabama. Terry leaves behind the love of his life, wife Sarah Adkins, and their children: Tamra Capps and husband Raymond of Rockwall, TX; Cindy Longanacre and husband Kelly of Chickasha; Karen Vidak (Birchum) and Tony Trivelli of Cocoa, FL; Joy Lavigne and husband Chris of Newcastle, OK; and Andy Adkins of Tulsa, OK. Grandchildren include Josh Longanacre and wife Julie of Chickasha and their sons, Clint and Colby; Andrea (Birchum) Krupnick of Cocoa, FL and her daughter, Allysa; Kelsey (Longanacre) Karper and husband Barney of Oklahoma City; Erica Birchum of Cocoa, FL; Austin Capps of Chicago, IL; Michelle Capps of Austin, TX, and Bridget Lavigne of Baton Rouge, LA. Condolences should also be extended to the many houses in Chickasha that would have relished being revitalized under his workmanship.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to Fisher House Foundation, which provides free lodging for veterans and military family members traveling for the medical care of a service member. The foundation may be reached at (888) 294-8560 or donations@fisherhouse.org .
Services and cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.