John David "J.D." Adkins, 91, of Richmond, MO died Monday, January 22, 2018 at Shirkey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond.

J.D. was born on January 3, 1927 in Wakenda, MO to Elmer Franklin and Daisy Lillian (Stanley) Adkins. He married Nira Geneva Cunningham of Richmond on December 8, 1948; she survives of the home.

Additional survivors include; two sons and two daughters-in-law, Ron and Kathy Adkins of Lexington, MO and Danny and Kerri Adkins of Richmond; daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Charlie Bowling of Richmond; one brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Carla Grant of Anabella, MO; two sisters, Rose Kitchen of Bates City, MO and Betty Davis of Carrollton, MO; 8 grandchildren, Brian Adkins (Fallon), Derek Adkins, Samantha Adkins Calvert (Blake),Tammy Ash (Kevin), Carey Wood (Rick), Jennifer Williams (Brian), Jonnathan Adkins (Christin), Jordan Adkins (Jessica); 15 great-grandchildren, Hunter, Jase, Levi, Able, Axton, Kyle, Caleb, Carley, Tyler, Seven, Indigo, Gage, Lexi, Kenna, Jett and one on the way. J.D. is also expecting his first great great grandchild.

In addition to his parents, J.D. was preceded in death by two brothers, Dick Adkins and one in infancy.

J.D. first served his country in the Army Air Crop where he flagged in the planes. He then joined the United States Army and was in the Military Police. For his service to his country he received WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Button. J.D. had a formal 8th grade education and was a self-made man who made sure his family was taken care of. He also went to school for appliance repair, electrical repair, and he was a mechanic. He worked for Benjamin Stables when he was young and loved horses. After returning from the service J.D. had many jobs which included a salvage yard with his father-in-law, working at Jackson Hardware in Richmond and eventually retiring from Ford Motor Company in Kansas City.

J.D. was a member of the Richmond V.F.W., The Henrietta Baptist Church and the United Auto Workers Local Union #249. J.D.'s hobbies and interests included combining, collecting eagles, knitting scarfs, loved westerns, horses and cowboys, enjoyed woodworking, fishing, camping, doing ceramics and he loved to whittle. He could work on cars and tell you what was wrong with them by the way they sounded. He loved sharing stories with everyone, especially his grandkids. He loved his family and taught them how to love and forgive and stick together because family comes first.

The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to either the Shirkey Hospice or to the Henrietta Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 23, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond. Burial will be in the Richmond Memory Gardens Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Ray County Veterans. Online condolences maybe left on our website at www.thurmanfuneralhome.com