Thomas Joseph Adkins Jr.

Retired Col. Thomas J. Adkins passed away July 8.

Tom was born in Corbin, Ky., in 1932.

He was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Fanny Adkins, son John Scott, grandson John. Jr., and his brother Bill.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Vermillion Adkins, and sons Tommy (Cheryl) of Lexington Ky., Jimmy (Kendra) of Longwood, Fla., and Charley (Lisa) of Knoxville. He has seven grandchildren, Brooklyne, Rachelle, Caro Lynn, Charles, Kylie, James Keith, and Andrea; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Peggy Lyons McNabb (Robert).

Tom is a member of the Corbin Kentucky High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He is a former University of Kentucky football player coached by the late Paul “Bear” Bryant. He was a member of Kentucky’s 1950 Orange Bowl Team and the co-captain of the 1952 Cotton Bowl Team. He was selected to the All SEC football team.

After UK, he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts but signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL.

After football, he joined the United States Army, where he retired, after 26 years of active duty, as a colonel from the United States Army while stationed at the Pentagon. He served oversea tours in Korea, Vietnam, and two tours in Germany.

After military retirement Tom worked for TRW in Washington, D.C., and Y-12 in Oak Ridge.

Tom was a longtime member of the Oak Ridge First Christian Church and Deacon Emeritus.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations are sent to The First Christian Church Building Fund, 100 Gum Hollow Rd, Oak Ridge TN, 37830, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Services will be held Thursday, July 11, at the First Christian Church, 100 Gum Hollow Rd. The service will start at 12 p.m. followed with a military graveside service at the Anderson Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the church from 11 a.m. to noon on Thursday.

An online guest book may be signed at weatherfordmortuary.com.