James Adkins

James T. Adkins, 78, formerly of Little Rock, Saint Louis and Santa Cruz, passed suddenly at home on June 24 of heart failure. A gathering in celebration of his compassionate and loving life will be held 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 6 with remembrances following at 7:00 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Circus Flora, 3547 Olive Street, Suite 210, St. Louis, MO 63109. Those wishing to leave a message may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Jim was born July 26, 1932 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the son of the late Caldwell and Sibyl Dobbs Adkins. After more than 40 years “together”, on November 5, 2005 he married Judy Conrad Pierson. Jim is survived by his wife, Judy; brother Bob Adkins of Santa Cruz; niece, Chana Jade Adkins; nephew, Shade Adkins of Sacramento; grand-nephews, Nathaneal, Forrest, Chance and Broc Adkins; and, cousins, Dan Dobbs, Mary Dobbs, Anne Dobbs Butterfield, Jill Lobdill Bush, Jerry Lobdill and Judy Lobdill Pelt-Newbern. Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 19 and served four years, primarily as a photographer. He then returned to Arkansas for undergraduate school and later to Washington University School of Medicine as a Fellow in Medical Psychology. He was employed for several years by St. Louis County Juvenile Court. He subsequently joined the War On Poverty, about which he was passionate, as Coordinator of a Model Cities Center in St. Louis. Following his retirement, he returned to Santa Cruz to care for his maternal grandmother and then his mother. An avid reader and music devotee, Jim's quest for knowledge was insatiable and broad, especially relating to politics, history, science, religion and social issues. He loved, and was loved by, many.