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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Akins, William J. “Uncle Bill”

Age 82

AKINS, William J.

“Uncle Bill” (Age 82) 1/6/31-10/16/13 Born in Millwood, WA, (in the house he was raised in) to William F. Akins and Freda C. Akins “Johnson” and lived most of his life in the Millwood area.

Bill spent a lot of time at his grandfather’s farm across the river in the Pasadena area helping with all the work.

He loved animals; especially the goat that followed him to school and everywhere he went.

He liked going on adventures and exploring the wilds of Donkey Island and the Spokane River, fishing and being with his friends.

Bill and his sister, Elaine, liked to ride the train to downtown Spokane and go to a show and out to Liberty Lake.

He graduated from West Valley High School.

He worked harvests around the St. John area.

He went to college at Gonzaga University, Eastern in Cheney and joined the Navy Reserves until his draft notice came, then signed up for the Navy active duty during the Korean War.

He married Betty J. Anderson (later divorced); they had four children.

Bill worked on missile sites in Washington, Kansas and Oklahoma during the Cuban Missile Crisis then came back to Millwood.

Bill then hired on at Kaiser working as a Pipe Fitter at Trentwood, then Mead, retiring after 30 years.

After retiring, he enjoyed hanging out, cracking jokes, and visiting with friends at the coffee shops, The Hungry Farmer, Susie’s, and the Old Mill.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Freda; sister, Elaine, and nephew, Billy Lee.

Bill is survived by his children, Jim (Jody), Randy, Cheryl (Steve), and Calvin (Cindy); grandchildren, Nicole, Michael, Chris, Jason, Breanna, Kevin, Autumn, and Reina; eleven great-grandchildren and nephew, Dennis.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 1:00 PM at Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, 1306 N. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley, WA.