John E. Adkins, Iv

JOHN ELLSWORTH ADKINS, IV, was born August 20, 1941, to Colonel John and Jane Adkins at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was able to rise and run to the Lord on August 4, 2024. John was baptized early in life and raised in a Christian home. In high school, he was a member of the National Guard and when he graduated from Fortier High School in New Orleans in 1959, he joined the 101st Airborne and went to jump school at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After serving his country for three years, John returned to New Orleans to attend Tulane University. He moved to Texas, where he married Joy Shell in 1973. John worked for the US Post Office as a Rural Carrier for 30 years, retiring in 2001. He was active in his church and worshiped his Lord and Savior. John loved singing in the choir, was a lay reader, and a warden. He was also a member of the vestry. John was an inspiration to others. He helped build St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Bellville. If you were looking for him, you could find him working diligently at the church, inside or out. John is survived by his wife of over 50 years: Joy Shell Adkins; children: Daniel Adkins, Deborah Adkins, Elizabeth Webb (Mark), and Mary Cocke (John); grandchildren: Jonas Adkins, Emily Webb, Patrick Webb, Andrew Cocke, Jack Cocke, and Augustus Cocke; brother: Thomas Adkins (Elizabeth); sister: Molly Adkins; brother-in-law: Steve Shell (Marla); sister-in-law: Rosemary Tanner (David); and brother-in-law: John Shell. He was preceded in death by his parents: Col. John and Jane Adkins; brother: John Adkins; sisters: Lei Lani Dean, Mary Louise Boyd, and Ann Adkins; brother: Michael Adkins; and daughter-in-law: Lynda Adkins. The family would like to “Thank” their church family, especially Father Mike and Jane Keppler of St. Barnabas, Hospice Brazos Valley, and Colonial Belle Nursing Home.