Willard L. Adkins, 73, of 719 Benedict, Chillicothe, passed away at 12:04 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
Born March 24, 1933, in Otis Chalk, Texas (Magnolia camp), son of Joseph M. Adkins and Ruby L. Smith Adkins, he married Nancy Ruth Haun on March 5, 1955. She preceded him in death on Oct. 22, 2004.
Willard is survived by two daughters, Lee Ann Conrad (Richard) of Hopewell Village, Ill. and Ruth (Rick Watson) Vonk of Urbana, Ill.; one brother, Elmer (Joann) Adkins of San Angelo, Texas; five grandchildren; six step grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews.
Willard served as a Military Police officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a police officer in Salinas, Calif., before beginning his career in security at Caterpillar Inc., where he retired as Captain of Security from the Tech Center in 1990.
Willard was a scuba diving instructor and founded the Peoria County Underwater Rescue and Recovery team. He was a firearms trainer for Illinois Central College, where he also taught security classes. He was also a volunteer fireman for Chillicothe.
Willard was a founding member of the Chillicothe Sportsman Club and a member of the Sierra Club.
Willard was a friend to the Chillicothe Alternative School, helping with activities and bringing treats. He was a good and kind person and was known as Grandpa by many.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A graveside service will be held at Buckeye Cemetery in Morton, Ill.
September 11, 2006 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
Born March 24, 1933, in Otis Chalk, Texas (Magnolia camp), son of Joseph M. Adkins and Ruby L. Smith Adkins, he married Nancy Ruth Haun on March 5, 1955. She preceded him in death on Oct. 22, 2004.
Willard is survived by two daughters, Lee Ann Conrad (Richard) of Hopewell Village, Ill. and Ruth (Rick Watson) Vonk of Urbana, Ill.; one brother, Elmer (Joann) Adkins of San Angelo, Texas; five grandchildren; six step grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews.
Willard served as a Military Police officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a police officer in Salinas, Calif., before beginning his career in security at Caterpillar Inc., where he retired as Captain of Security from the Tech Center in 1990.
Willard was a scuba diving instructor and founded the Peoria County Underwater Rescue and Recovery team. He was a firearms trainer for Illinois Central College, where he also taught security classes. He was also a volunteer fireman for Chillicothe.
Willard was a founding member of the Chillicothe Sportsman Club and a member of the Sierra Club.
Willard was a friend to the Chillicothe Alternative School, helping with activities and bringing treats. He was a good and kind person and was known as Grandpa by many.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A graveside service will be held at Buckeye Cemetery in Morton, Ill.
September 11, 2006 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
Willard L. Adkins, 73, of 719 Benedict, Chillicothe, passed away at 12:04 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
Born March 24, 1933, in Otis Chalk, Texas (Magnolia camp), son of Joseph M. Adkins and Ruby L. Smith Adkins, he married Nancy Ruth Haun on March 5, 1955. She preceded him in death on Oct. 22, 2004.
Willard is survived by two daughters, Lee Ann Conrad (Richard) of Hopewell Village, Ill. and Ruth (Rick Watson) Vonk of Urbana, Ill.; one brother, Elmer (Joann) Adkins of San Angelo, Texas; five grandchildren; six step grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews.
Willard served as a Military Police officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a police officer in Salinas, Calif., before beginning his career in security at Caterpillar Inc., where he retired as Captain of Security from the Tech Center in 1990.
Willard was a scuba diving instructor and founded the Peoria County Underwater Rescue and Recovery team. He was a firearms trainer for Illinois Central College, where he also taught security classes. He was also a volunteer fireman for Chillicothe.
Willard was a founding member of the Chillicothe Sportsman Club and a member of the Sierra Club.
Willard was a friend to the Chillicothe Alternative School, helping with activities and bringing treats. He was a good and kind person and was known as Grandpa by many.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A graveside service will be held at Buckeye Cemetery in Morton, Ill.
September 11, 2006 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
Born March 24, 1933, in Otis Chalk, Texas (Magnolia camp), son of Joseph M. Adkins and Ruby L. Smith Adkins, he married Nancy Ruth Haun on March 5, 1955. She preceded him in death on Oct. 22, 2004.
Willard is survived by two daughters, Lee Ann Conrad (Richard) of Hopewell Village, Ill. and Ruth (Rick Watson) Vonk of Urbana, Ill.; one brother, Elmer (Joann) Adkins of San Angelo, Texas; five grandchildren; six step grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews.
Willard served as a Military Police officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a police officer in Salinas, Calif., before beginning his career in security at Caterpillar Inc., where he retired as Captain of Security from the Tech Center in 1990.
Willard was a scuba diving instructor and founded the Peoria County Underwater Rescue and Recovery team. He was a firearms trainer for Illinois Central College, where he also taught security classes. He was also a volunteer fireman for Chillicothe.
Willard was a founding member of the Chillicothe Sportsman Club and a member of the Sierra Club.
Willard was a friend to the Chillicothe Alternative School, helping with activities and bringing treats. He was a good and kind person and was known as Grandpa by many.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A graveside service will be held at Buckeye Cemetery in Morton, Ill.
September 11, 2006 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
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