Lawrence Gordon Adkins, 86, of Stanton, Texas died Thursday, March 17, 2005. Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, March 21, 2005, at Stanton United Methodist Church with Rev. Daniel Armstrong, pastor, officiating. Graveside military honors will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Stanton. The family will receive friends from 4:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. Sunday, March 20, at the Gilbreath Funeral Home in Stanton. Dubbed the "head pilgrim" by his children after a John Wayne movie, Lawrence took great pleasure in being a special character within the family. His example and interaction forged a strong bond of God, family and friends for his whole family. He will be greatly missed and forever loved by those who knew him well. Lawrence was born July 31, 1918 in Red Top, Texas, the son of David and Nannie Adkins. He attended school in Moore and Big Spring, and graduated from West Texas State Teachers College in 1941. He taught science in Sudan until he was drafted into the Army. Lawrence met his wife, Evelyn Stallings, in 1937 through his former teacher, Miss Twila Lomax, Evelyn's aunt. The couple were married April 10, 1943 in Yakima, Washington, where Lawrence was stationed with the 96th Infantry Division, 363rd Field Artillary Unit. After moving with the Army throughout Washington, Oregon, and California, Lawrence sailed for the Pacific arena in July 1944. Facing the battles of Leyte and Okinawa, Lawrence was awarded the Bronze Star. Following V-J Day, he returned home to Lomax, Texas with the rank of Captain. Lawrence started farming in 1946. He taught 2 years in the veterans program at Howard County Junior College and also worked for Cap Rock Electric during the drought of the 50's. Later, his two oldest sons, Larry and Bob, would join him in farming. Lawrence was active in Wes-Tex Telephone Cooperative as a board member from 1952 through 1989, serving as president of the board from 1971 to 1983. Both Evelyn and Lawrence have been active members of the Stanton United Methodist Church for more than 55 years. Lawrence is survived by his wife of 62 years, Evelyn, and children: daughter-in-law, Lila Adkins of Big Spring; sons, Bob Adkins and his wife, Deborah of Lomax and David Adkins of Snyder; daughters, Mollie Madison and husband, Jack of Stanton and Dee Dee Colwell and husband, Barry of Marysville, Washington. Lawrence and Evelyn's first son, Larry, died in October 2003. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Barry, Josh, and Rachel Madison, Leslie and wife, Kelly Adkins, Larissa and Landon Adkins, Jennifer and husband, Mike McNeil, Kelly and husband, Monty Means, Trey and wife, Sherra Harrell, and Courtney and Colton Colwell and great grandchildren, Peyton Madison, Baylor Means, Blaze McNeil and Quentin Harrell. He was also preceded in death by eight siblings, Archie Adkins, Charlie Adkins, Robert Adkins, Russell Adkins, Winifred Wood, Bernice Micaliff, Norma Lee Autrey and Marguerite Marion. Memorials may be made to West Texas Aphasia Center, 2800 W. Illinois Ave., Ste. 230, Midland, Texas 79701 or a favorite charity.Arrangements under the direction of Gilbreath Funeral Home of Stanton. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
