Richard L Adkins

Born February 22, 1937 in Peoria to Howard and Frances (Wheelock) Adkins, he married Shirley M. Garrett on September 7, 1974 in Fulton County. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Stephen R. Adkins of Bartonville; one daughter, Susan M. (Rev. Charles) Buegel of Washburn; one step-son, Scott (Rhonda) Searle of Brimfield; one step-daughter, Debra (Art) Contoni of Bartonville; nine grandchildren, Anna Joy Buegel, Matthew Buegel, Lucas Buegel, Bethany Buegel, Kayla Searle, Josh Searle, Stephanie Contoni, Samantha Contoni and Sidney Contoni and one sister, Sharon (Don) Canalia of Cornville, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister and three brothers.

Dick worked for Keystone Steel & Wire Company in Bartonville for 37 years in the bundling department, retiring in 1995. He was a proud member of the Independent Steel Workers Alliance, of which he was a former secretary and treasurer. As his retirement job, he owned and operated a small trucking company, Dick Adkins Earth Materials.

Dick was a 50-year member of Verlin M. Showalter Lodge #1172, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Bartonville. He was a longtime volunteer driver for the Shriner’s, transporting children to and from their hospital in Chicago and to the burn unit in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dick really enjoyed helping kids.

He never met a stranger and will be remembered as the Apple Ring Peeler on the Spoon River Drive for more than 30 years in Farmington.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Rev. Charles L. Buegel will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Masonic rites conducted at 8 p.m. Additional visitation will be one half-hour before the funeral. Burial will be in Penn Ridge Cemetery in rural Trivoli.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 North Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60707.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com