Nina Ray Akins

Nina Ray Allen Akins passed away on November 6th, just one day after her 90th birthday. She was born 11-5-1934 on a farm in Spur, Texas to Anna Clementine (Clema) Rogers and William Penn Allen. She was the 2nd child and oldest girl of the family of 8.

When her father died during the Great Depression, her mom was left with 5 children and a 6th on the way. Those were lean years and they relied on Nina’s maternal grandparents to survive. Life got a little brighter when Clema remarried Lonnie “Tex” Phillips.

Nina graduated from Dora (NM) high school in 1953, she was awarded a $500 scholarship to attend nursing school. She attended Texas Tech in Lubbock for 1 year and then studied for 3 years at Lubbock Methodist Hospital, receiving her nursing school diploma.

She joined the Reserve Army Nurse Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant and served in many overseas assignments, including Pusan, South Korea, Honolulu, Hawaii, Tehran, Iran. Along the way, she earned her BSN, attending night classes while working days full time. She became a Nurse Anesthetist in time to report to Vietnam in 1969. A devastating car accident in Hawaii sent her back to Wm Beaumont in El Paso, Tx for rehab.

She retired to El Paso, TX in July 1977 with 20 years of Active Duty as a Lt Colonel from the Army Nurse Corps in the regular Army.

She finally settled down on August 1,1978 when she married a neighbor and fellow retiree, Loval Akins, USMC. Nina loved to bowl and was a member of the Budweiser Golden Age senior winter league at Ft Bliss Center Lanes. She was the secretary/treasurer for 14 years, running the operation tracking scores, submitting award nominations to the American Bowling and Women’s International Bowling congresses.

She and Loval loved to travel to tournaments in Laughlin, Nevada for many years. They traveled to see the Grandkids until their health prevented it.

She inherited 3 step children in Kelly, Melissa and Charlie. When the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came, she loved spoiling them with homemade birthday cards and generous gifts.

Loval passed away in May, 2020 and Nina moved to Albuquerque under the loving care of her stepdaughter, Kelly Romero. We appreciate the wonderful care that Nina received at Casa Subina in Albuquerque for the past 2+ years.

She was preceded in death by her Mother and Dad, her Stepfather and her sister, Laura and brothers Royce and Carroll and her husband Loval. She is survived by her sister Zoe Ann Davis and husband Waide of Portales, NM, brother Neil Allen and wife Sandra of Tucson, AZ as well as many nieces and nephews, from Alaska to Texas. Loval’s children (whom she loved as her own): Kelly and Bob Romero of Bernalillo, NM, Melissa and Dick Ryther of Washington, UT and Charlie and Kelly Akins of Granada Hills, CA. Also, 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Heartfelt thanks from the family to Alejandra, Jolene, Michelle, Jodessa and all the staff at Casa Subina Assisted Living as well as RN Jessica and staff from Hospice de La Luz.

After a private service, she will be laid to rest at the El Paso, TX Veterans Cemetery next to her husband Loval.