Kenneth Cooper Akins, 83, passed away Monday, August 20, 2018. Ken was born to James Thomas “Tom” and Margaret “Hazel” Akins in Covington, Tennessee on January 23, 1935. A private Celebration of Life is planned at a later date.
Ken grew up in Covington, Tennessee where he graduated from Byars Hall High School in 1953. He was always interested in sharing those memorable years in Covington with anyone with the time and patience to listen. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves and was a retired electrical engineer. He spent most of his professional life in the NASA space program with one of his major projects being the reentry space communication system for astronauts . After leaving the space industry, he accepted a position in Saudi Arabia as project manager for a Saudi company responsible for developing the Eastern Province region of Saudi Arabia.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Vivian Rosen; and brother James “Jim” Akins.
Survivors: His sons Randy Akins of Arlington, Texas; Doug Akins and wife, Kathy of Keller, Texas; brother Perry Akins and wife, Methal of Pacific Palisades, California; and two granddaughters, Hannah and Natalie who reside in Texas.
Memorials: If desired, memorials may be made to the Gene Autry Museum in Los Angeles, CA. The link for a donation is: https://theautry.org/join-give/support-autry
