Herbert Estel Akins

Herbert Estel Akins, 88, of Englewood, Colorado passed away on Tuesday, July 25th 2017 at his home in Englewood. A Celebration Of Life Service will be held on Friday, August 11, 2017 at Eleven O'Clock in the morning at St. James Presbyterian Church, 4601 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80123, with Les Avery and Jim Stuart officiating. Reception following the service, concluding with burial at Littleton Cemetery at Two-thirty in the Afternoon. In lieu of flowers, memorials maybe made to the family for assistance in funeral expenses or to the Volunteers Of America. Herb was born October 20, 1928 in Hayden , Indiana to Roy and Dorothy (Orcutt) Akins. He graduated from Griffith High School, Griffith Indiana in 1946, enlisting into the Army in October 1946 as a clerk-typist in Quartermaster Corp at Camp Lee, Va. Herb was then assigned to 529TH Military Police Co in occupied Germany and graduated from DeForest Training in Chicago in 1953. Herb was employed as a test engineer for J.P. Seeburg Corp for military radio equipment, then moved to Denver in 1958 to work for Martin CO on the Titan Rocket project. Herb retired from Sterns-Roger, AKA Raytheon in 1995. On September 17, 1949 he married former Shirley Mae Bonnem in Hammond, Indiana. Children Kenneth Michael Akins 1/54; and Elizabeth Diane 8/57. He was preceded in death by parents, Roy and Dorothy Akins, Wife Shirley (11/2000, after 13 years struggle with Lung Cancer and COPD), Son K. Michael Akins (8/2000), sister Carolyn Akins Owen, niece Dorothy (Dodie) Chapman. Herbert is survived by his only daughter, Elizabeth (Beth) Diane Akins-Hayes,(Husband-J. Michael Hayes); Grandsons: Daniel Tyler Bockenstedt (Bailey), Aaron J Akins , Andrew C Akins: Granddaughters: Julie Elizabeth Bockenstedt Montague (Mark) ; Angela E. Akins: Great Grandchildren: Ahvienda (2001), Ethan (2001), Cambren (2003), Eli (2004),Azyra(2008), Caden (2010), Canon (2015): Niece: Brenda Chapman Wilson: Nephews: Doug and Barry Chapman and several cousins, great nieces & nephews. He was a devoted husband, father, and uncle ~ a true family man. He enjoyed his time as a Albert Pike Mason and a member of the Englewood Presbyterian Church (Mariners Group) and St James Presbyterian Church. He loved to tinker with cars, HO train sets, Ghost Town excursions-4-wheeling, camping, fishing, golfing. Playing cards and joking around with his favorite people. He enjoyed watching football, especially the Broncos and the Denver Gold. Later after Shirley passed, he was able to travel to many places in the world, which he loved, with his special traveling companion Barbara Casio. Special Thanks to the Lutheran Hospice and Horan & McConaty for the guidance of all memorial arrangements. Special thanks to Niece Brenda Chapman Wilson who took Leave of absence from her job to help Dad at the last 3 weeks of his life and Andrew Akins who also assisted the last 10 days. I (Beth) could not have done it with out your help. Please share memories of Herb and condolences for his family by signing the guestbook below.