BOB ADKINS

Bob Adkins, 90, of Abingdon, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. He was surrounded by his beloved daughters, Amy and Sarita, and took with him the prayers and love of so many people.

Bob Adkins (Butler Adkins Jr.) was born July 22, 1932 in Honey Camp, to Mona (Tackett) Adkins and Butler Adkins, both of Virgie, Ky. and Penny, Ky. Butler (father) was deceased two months prior to Bob’s birth.

Bob was the last living member of the Mona and Butler Adkins family. Mona, Bob and his older brother, Richard moved to Virgie, Ky. soon after the death of his father and he attended and graduated from Virgie High School.

Bob was a music and sports advocate and lover from when he could first run, throw and play. Bob excelled in baseball and basketball and acquired the nickname “Rabbit” at Virgie High School because of his sprinting speed on the baseball diamond and basketball court. He was a skilled athlete, who was touted for his speed, batting, fielding and especially for base stealing.

Bob also played a mandolin, guitar, fiddle, dobro and occasionally the harmonica and was self-taught with a true ear for musical tone and key. He could hear a song and play it by ear without reading any musical notes. He never learned to read music but could play any song just by listening. He loved to play gospel bluegrass songs as well as original compositions. He enjoyed music by the bands Seldom Scene and Country Gentlemen and often played their songs as well. One of his favorite songs was “Rawhide” by Bill Monroe and played it every chance he could and as fast as he could.

After high school, Bob decided to sign on with the Navy and was in Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Il. He attended Radioman school in San Diego, Ca. and was transferred to the Pacific Fleet. Just after signing, the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball franchise contacted him to come try out for the team. As he had already signed on with the Navy, he could not take advantage of that opportunity. Bob entered the Navy in November 1951 and was stationed on the USS Pelican (minesweeper) during the Korean War in Japan and Korea as a radioman third class. Bob was honorably discharged from the Navy in November 1955 and served four years in the Naval Reserve.

After the Navy, Bob enrolled at Pikeville College using the GI Bill. He majored in Education and graduated and began teaching at Indian Creek School in Ky. He met Wanda Marie Martin through teaching (she taught at Virgie Elementary) and knew she was the love of his life. After a short courtship, Bob proposed at the Jenkins Mountain Overlook. Bob and Wanda found each other early in life, fell in true love, and were inseparable until her death in 2014.

Bob and Wanda married in 1965 and moved to Clintwood to continue their teaching careers. Bob taught English at Clintwood High School and also coached baseball (head coach), basketball and football. Bob truly enjoyed coaching and teaching and positively impacted so many lives during his time at Clintwood. He was known and well-respected as a fair, humorous, knowledgeable and all-around caring and concerned coach and teacher.

Bob and Wanda were both members of the Clintwood Baptist Church where they taught Sunday School and Bob was a deacon for many years. Bob was a devout Christian and loved our Heavenly Father. He often spoke of Heaven and his ascension there someday. They were also members of the Norton Baptist Church during their time in Wise.

During this time in 1973, Bob began the Kentucky River Boys bluegrass band and continued his love of bluegrass music. The band performed at numerous bluegrass music festivals and shows throughout the years and made a CD of their music, many original songs written by Bob. Bob had a high tenor vocal tone that accompanied the bluegrass sound perfectly. Until his death, he was able to “hit the high notes” with ease and still sounded clear and melodious. Bob loved writing and music and hand wrote many song lyrics and even put some to music. He left behind a notebook of original compositions for his daughters and family to cherish. Wanda and his daughters always traveled with the band to festivals and enjoyed flatfooting and singing along when the band played. Bob played bluegrass with many talented musicians and was playing up until his last day. The family rejoices in knowing that Bob is still playing up in Heaven.

Bob was named a Kentucky Colonel in 1989 as an ambassador of Kentucky and for his contributions to community and state. Bob was also a diehard University of Kentucky basketball fan and cheered for the Cats every year since he was in elementary school. His love of baseball needs his support of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Bob was never without a baseball cap or a UK cap.

Bob was an active member of the Clintwood Lions Club and worked diligently to represent those in need in the community and served as Lions Club president for six terms. He led the Lions Club to an accomplished and successful era of community service. He was also a member of the Norton and Abingdon Lions Clubs.

Bob became interested in public service and in assisting his fellow citizens and was elected to the Clintwood Town Council for 1996-2000. He was known as a dedicated and honest public servant who worked for the people and helped Clintwood achieve many new and positive accomplishments for its citizens. He also served on the Youth Advisory Board of Dickenson County, and the Zoning Board in Clintwood.

Bob and Wanda moved to Wise for a few years after retirement from teaching and then Abingdon a few years later to be close to their daughters and grandsons. They adored watching their grandboys grow into fine young men and achieve much in the way of academics, track and football. His grandsons, Wyatt, Carson and Ryan, were his pride and joy and he spoke of them to everyone he knew. Bob was a wonderful grandfather, active and involved, and he loved nothing more than challenging his grandsons to race or play each other and always encouraged them to always go outside. He spent many hours with them teaching them to play pool, dive, catch a baseball or basketball. Bob was an exceptional grandfather and his grandsons will miss him fiercely. They’ll especially miss talking sports with him.

Bob led a life that began with the loss of his father but ended with much accomplishment and celebration as he had found the love of his life in Wanda and they raised two

wonderful daughters. Bob will be remembered as an honorable, comedic, loving, civic-minded, educated, musically gifted sports (baseball) enthusiast and former athlete. Those that knew him cherished his friendship, intelligence and humor. No one could spin a yarn or create a story like Bob. Bob had an incredible gift for words and writing and shared this with his students, players, and especially his family. After Wanda passed away in 2014, Bob hand wrote dozens of love letters to her detailing his love and adoration for her, his great sadness and distress at her passing, and his joy in anticipating joining her in their heavenly home. Wanda was truly his treasure here on Earth and his family is rejoicing that Bob and Wanda are reunited for an eternity.

Bob leaves behind two loving daughters, Amy D. Mullins (Danny) of Bristol, Tn., Sarita D. Moore of Blacksburg, and Gary Moore of Kingsport, Tn. Left with years of wonderful, loving memories are his three grandsons, (Amy and Danny) Wyatt, Carson and Ryan Mullins of Bristol.

Preceding Bob in death are his beloved wife, Wanda Marie; his mother, Mona; his father, Butler; his brother, Richard Adkins and his half-brother, Roy Lamb.

Bob called his daughters his Earthly kingdom and he protected, educated and loved them every day of their lives. At age 90, he would often call them to check on them and remind them to stay safe and to spend time together as much as possible. He was the consummate Christian father and husband with his wife and children being the ultimate pride and joy for him. Bob was a truly devoted family man.

Bob wrote to his daughters to meet Wanda and him in heaven beyond Jordan and always ended his beautifully-worded handwritten letters with “rounding third and headed for home”, a reference to his Christian faith and love of baseball.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Johnston Memorial Hospital ER in Abingdon, Virginia and Roanoke Memorial Hospital Palliative Care Unit for their compassionate care and support. The staff in the Palliative Care Unit was a blessing and the family is eternally grateful for the care that Bob received.

The family received friends Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mullins Funeral Home in Clintwood. A Celebration of Life followed at 1 p.m. with John Farmer officiating. Burial followed in Powell Valley Memorial Garden Cemetery complete with military honors from Gate City Honor Guard and VFW Post 8652 Coeburn.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a military veterans charity (VFW, Wounded Warriors) St. Judes, or to the Lions Club. As you remember Bob, please fondly recall his love of life, music and sports and his ultimate love for his family. He would gladly and sincerely instruct you to enjoy your life, stay true to Christian convictions and live in the path of the Cross.

“Rounding third and headed for home.”

Online condolences may be made online at www.mullinsfuneralhome.net.

Mullins Funeral Home and Staff are serving the Adkins family.