Earl Adkins Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

EARL ADKINS, 80, died Thursday, October 5, 2017, at Cabell Huntington Hospital. Born in Chattaroy, West Virginia, on September 20, 1937, Earl lived most of his life in Kenova and graduated from Ceredo-Kenova High School in 1956. He was the son of the late Herbert and Sadie (Varney) Adkins. Earl worked as a building contractor for more than 50 years, building churches, businesses, and countless custom homes, and in the last 28 years passed on his skills, craftsmanship, and commitment to excellence to his son, Jerry. One of Earl's passions was the growth of God's kingdom; over the years, he encouraged and worked alongside pastors who were planting new churches in the Tri-State area. His life and his work earned Earl the respect of everyone who knew him. Earl's life is best summed up in what he loved: God, his wife, his children, and his church (the Kenova Church of God, where he was a member for 50 years, serving as a trustee and a member of the pastor's council). He also loved his work, building the places families call "home" and the building where he and his fellow church members worshipped the God who is near to the brokenhearted and who heals their broken hearts. He leaves his wife of 59 years, Sharla Marie (Thacker) Adkins; two sons, Jeffery Earl Adkins (wife, Amy) and Jerry David Adkins; and two daughters, Karen Marie Adkins and Rebecca Adkins Messinger; 10 grandchildren (Jacob Adkins and his wife Krista, Caleb Adkins and his wife Jihye, Daniel Adkins, Zachary Adkins and his wife Stephanie, Clay Messinger, Leah Adkins, Molly Messinger, Tyler Adkins, Levi Adkins and his wife Josie, and Jack Messinger); five great-grandchildren; one brother, Glen Adkins and his wife, Jennifer; two sisters, Edith Pulley and Geraldine Light and her husband Don; and three sisters-in-law, Ermalene Adkins, Lucretia Webb and her husband Joe, and Ginger Weber and her husband Dick. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Everett Adkins and Ellis Adkins; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Lola Thacker; his sister-in-law, Jerry Lou Adkins; and his brother-in-law, Milton Pulley. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, October 9; the funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, October 10. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Rabun Haddock and Rev. Ernest Pennington. All services will be held at the Kenova Church of God at 1601 Maple Street. Earl will be buried at the Dock's Creek Cemetery. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the Adkins family with the arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.