WILLIAM DAVID ADKINS, 71 years of Darlington, MD, passed away on Monday August 14, 2017 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, MD. William was the beloved husband of Valerie G. (Belcher) Adkins, and they had celebrated their 48th anniversary on January 24, 2017.

Born on August 27, 1945 in Rising Sun, MD, he was one of seven children of the late Leroy and Lucy Bell (Pennington) Adkins and served with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1968, a portion of which was served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Retiring in 1999, Bill worked as a United Auto Worker for 30 years with General Motors at their Wilmington, DE plant. He was a pastor who had a strong passion for preaching the Word of God at Belview Freewill Baptist Church in Delta PA, serving as pastor until the time of his death and formerly with the Redeemed Hope Family Ministry in Rising Sun, MD. Along with his enjoyment for golf, he worked part time at Geneva Golf Club in Street, MD and loved classic cars and trucks, especially his 1951 Cadillac. Additional favorite pastimes were spending time with his grandchildren, fishing and making people laugh.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by:
A son, Thomas L. Adkins and his wife, Wendy of Darlington, MD
A daughter, Melissa Y. Riffey and her husband, Robert Riffey, Jr. of Darlington, MD

Two siblings, Jean Anderson of Plantation, FL and Wayne Adkins of Arab, AL

Two grandchildren, Andrew and Abigail White

He was preceded in death by four siblings, James L. Anderson, Peggy S. Adkins, Doris Sims and Trixie Bury

A viewing will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2017 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Trinity Free Will Baptist Church, 3414 Cedar Church Rd, Darlington, MD 21034 where the funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday. Pastor Mark A. Rudd, Pastor Phillip Dunaway and Reverend Rusty W. Estep will co-officiate with interment in Darlington Cemetery, Darlington, MD. Military honors will be presented at graveside by the Air Force Honor Guard.