Adkins, Ernest W.

Ernest W. (Pee Wee) Adkins, 84, of Christiansburg, died Friday, January 4, 2013. He was born on December 21, 1928 in Montgomery County, to the late Frank Spencer and Bertha Ellen Smith Adkins and was also preceded in death by his brother, Fred Oakley Adkins; father-in-law, Garnett S. Gerald, mother-in-law, Bertha Viers Gerald; brothers-in-law, Gordon Gerald and Shirley Jackson Gerald.

Ernest is survived by his wife of sixty one years, Helen Kolin Gerald Adkins of Christiansburg; children, Mary Jane and Jim Bridwell of Eagle River, Ark., Garnett and Lisa Adkins of Christiansburg, Anita and John Lilly of Christiansburg, Steve and Emegen Adkins of Vinton, Trish and Bill Baracat of Sterling, David and Connie Adkins of Summit Point, W.Va.; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Frank B. Adkins (Martha), Robert Adkins, Clarence Adkins (Mildred), John Adkins, Russell Adkins (Sue Elliott), Safford Adkins, Florence Adkins Shephard (Dale), Barbara Adkins Croy (Connie), Hazel Adkins; sisters-in-law, Martha Jane Akers and Virginia Gerald Walters (Kelly).

Pee Wee enlisted with the United States Army Air Corps, which later became the United States Air Force, in December 1946. He was overseas for two years, Alaska 1948 and Okinawa 1952-1954. He received two honorable discharges. While in the United States Air Force in Okinawa, he formed a band “The Westerners” and recruited Mel Tillis as the bands lead singer. The two of them remained friends and held a reunion hosted by Mel in Branson, Mo. in 1994.

In 1960 he went to work for General Electric Company in Salem, where he retired after 29 years of service. Ernie was a member of Knights Templar, Blacksburg Commandery No. 032, McDaniel Lodge No. 86- Christiansburg, Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons, Taylor Royal Arch Chapter 70, Veterans of Foreign War-Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pee Wee was also well known for his “fiddling” and played for many years with the McPeak Brothers and the Craig County Boys. He was a regular contestant at the Galax Fiddlers Convention and brought home several ribbons.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to “Ernie’s Angels”, Jane Akers, Beth Emhizer, Sharon Duncan Baker, Cinda McCoy, Nancy Scott, Angie Loy, Sarah McCoy, Vanessa Wade, Priscilla Morris, Joyce Radford and Christy Dishon. We would also like to express our appreciation to Pastor Michael Neuse, Dr. J. Edwin Wilder and his staff for their care and compassion.

Funeral Services will be conducted Monday, January 7, 2013 at 10 a.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Michael Neuse officiating. Interment will follow in the Harless Cemetery, Long Shop with the McDaniel Lodge No. 86, Christiansburg conducting graveside rites.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask that donations be made to Carillon Hospice, 707 Randolph Street, Radford, Virginia.

Friends may call any time after noon, Sunday and the family will receive friends from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, SW, Blacksburg.