James E. Adkins
CATLETTSBURG - James E. Adkins, of Lexington,
KY and a former Catlettsburg,
KY resident, now rests peacefully in the arms
of Jesus, following his passing, Tues. Feb. 22, 2005 at St.
Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY.
He was 85 years of age. Mr. Adkins was born Oct. 15, 1919 in Ashland, KY
a son of the late Winwright J. and Ruth Whitt Adkins.
At six years old his family moved to Catlettsburg,
KY where he attended grade school
and high school. Following high school he served as a 1st Lt. In the U.S. Army Honorably during WW II, receiving a Purple
Heart for his efforts in the Battle
of the Bulge and later he retired due to service connected injuries. He then
graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School
in 1947. Mr. Adkins established his own law firm, "James E. Adkins Law
Firm" in 1948 at the old Gallup
Field Building
and retired in 2000 from practicing law. Mr. Adkins served as city attorney for
the City of Catlettsburg
for twenty years. He also did legal work to establish the flood wall, and for
Kentucky Farmers Bank, Federal Land Bank, Farmers Home Administration,
Veteran's Administration, Catlettsburg Federal Savings & Loan, and helped
to establish the Grandview Manor and Forest Hills Housing Project for
Catlettsburg. He served on committee to build annex to Boyd County Courthouse.
Did title work for State of Kentucky to
establish Route U.S. 23 and Route U.S. 60 through the City of Catlettsburg and also served as the Attorney
for the Boyd County Board of Education. He was a member of the Catlettsburg
Leadership Community Development Club, served on the Centennial and
Sesquicentennial Committee, was a KY Colonel, Officer and Board Member at
Kentucky Farmers Bank, a member of the Catlettsburg Cemetery Board and a member
of the 1st United
Methodist Church
where he served on various committees. Mr. Adkins Loved his town, its people
and his business. In addition to his father and mother he was preceded in death
by his loving wife, Helen Ellsworth Adkins, by his step mother, Linna Spence Adkins, by a brother Emzie
Adkins and two sisters, Ruth Ann Leatherman and
Pauline Ross. Surviving are two sons; James E. Adkins II, his wife Georgene of Brandenton, FL and
Don Adkins, his wife Virginia of Lexington, KY, a daughter; Gail Frickman, her husband Thomas of Taylor Mill, KY. He is also
survived by, a brother Wallace Adkins of Lexington, KY, a sister Martha Guy of
Catlettsburg, KY and five grandchildren; James P. Adkins, Kenneth Ryan Adkins,
Megan Elizabeth Adkins, Laura Ellen Frickman and
Alice Ruth Frickman. In remembrance of James Adkins,
a funeral service will be held Sat., Feb. 26, 2005 11 am at the 1st United Methodist
Church in Catlettsburg, KY.
Words of comfort and hope offered by Rev. Farley Stuart.
Mr. Adkins will be laid to rest beside his wife at Catlettsburg Cemetery
following the services.
Published in the Lexington Herald-Leader on 2/24/2005.