Barry M. Adkins

April 30, 1962 - August 3, 2012

BARRY MICHAEL ADKINS, SR., age 50, went to be with the Lord Friday, August 3, 2012 at 11:52 AM. Barry left us peacefully and painlessly with his wife and daughter by his bedside holding his hands. He leaves behind his faithful wife of 27 years, Tanna Lynne Adkins and 3 children, Heather Dawn, Barry, Jr. and Aaron Christopher Adkins. He also leaves behind 3 grandsons, Aaron, Jr. (Little Man), Barry III (Little B) and Parker Adkins. Barry will join his late parents in Heaven, Kimball Barbour and Margaret Alice Bias Adkins. Kimball was in the Korean War and watched one of his best friends die while they were fighting side-by-side in combat. My father was named after this man whose name was Michael. My father was his parents’ only child.
My father was a man who all of his friends and family looked up to and not just because he was 6’6″. He was a giant of a man with a giant heart. He is the best man I have ever known. He was always loyal and protective to his friends and family – I have even known him to help his worst enemies. If a family couldn’t pay their rent or a utility bill, he would help them so they wouldn’t be homeless. If anyone needed advice, they could go to him and he would give them his time. If he saw a friend walking home or their car was broken down, he would give them a ride home. If a friend passed away and their family couldn’t afford to pay for the funeral, he would help them. He would do all of these things and much more while never asking for anything in return. He never told anyone about these kind acts but I know about them because I am his daughter and I saw him do these things throughout my life.
I remember being a little girl and looking up at my dad in awe because anytime he walked through a doorway, his head would always touch the top of it as he walked by. I remember trying to walk in his size 16 basketball shoes and I would always stumble – no one will ever be able to fill his shoes. He had the curliest hair but he usually kept it cut short so no one could tell. I will never forget seeing him in his hospital bed with his hair grown out a little and realizing that my hair had curls just like his, exactly like his, as if God had traced our hair from the same stencil. I have never been more proud to be my father’s daughter than at that moment.
For as long as I can remember, he worked from the time he woke up till the time he came in for bed each evening around 8 PM. Even on his days off and even when he was resting, he was always working. He is the most hardworking man I have ever known. He was also a kid at heart. He loved candy and would send my mom to get him Pixie Sticks, Tootsie Pops, and there was a hard candy that fizzed in the middle and he loved those most of all. He loved to watch sports, especially basketball, but his favorite team of all was the Cincinnati Reds and Pete Rose was always his favorite player. Dad would vote for his induction onto the Baseball Hall of Fame, I’m sure. His favorite basketball player was Huntington’s own O. J. Mayo. He also loved The Brady Bunch – he never lost interest in it. He loved to quiz me on music trivia. He’d get a kick out of it if I knew a song that he would never guessed that I would know.
I could write a book about my father but the last thing I want to mention is also the most important one to me. Out of all the things I have learned from the smartest man I’ve ever know is how to be faithful, monogamous, and how to treasure your marriage. My mom always told me it was love at first sight and that she knew she was going to marry him the day she met him. I am so proud of my parent’s marriage, for them to have a love so strong that it has withstood the test of time and I know it will continue to last forever and ever. Because of my parents, I believe in love, I believe in marriage, and I believe in soul mates and if I ever lose faith in love, all I have to do is think of them together and my faith is restored. I will remember them fighting over the remote at night. I will remember them fighting over whether to watch a baseball game or Jeopardy. I will miss mom asking “Who do you want to win, honey?” And then she would root for my dad’s team. I will miss them being like 2 teenagers in love even after almost 30 years of marriage.
Walk tall in Heaven, daddy, just like you did in life. You were our superman and you will always be the man we look up to. You were our world and our lives revolved around you and I don’t know what we will do without you. We will try our best to honor your name until we meet again in Heaven. We will always love you and miss you. Mom wants you to know that she will never be your widow – she will always be your wife.
Specials thanks to Kelly Eldred, his sister-in-law who was like a sister to him; to the McKenzie family for all their support, and to Fred Craft and Kieth Bazell who were like his brothers. Thank you to their families for being so understanding during our time of need. Thank you to Slack and Wallace Funeral Home for their compassion and professionalism in tending to his funeral arrangements. I would also like to mention that dad was a member of the Ohio Valley Lodge #536 and he was always very proud of that.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, August 12, 2012 at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home, South Point with Pastor Tom Ross officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens, South Point. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6 to 8 PM Saturday. Condolences may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.