Mr. Thomas Lee “Tom” Adkins, age 76, of Vevay, Indiana, entered this life on December 11, 1945 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the son of Alfred Claude Adkins, whom preceded him in death and Muriel G. “Jean” (O’Day) Adkins. He was raised on a farm in Versailles, Indiana. Tom was a 1964 graduate of the Versailles High School where he enjoyed playing basketball. After high school, Tom enlisted into the United States Navy on November 16, 1964 in Versailles, Indiana with the rank of Seaman Recruit. Tom served in the Vietnam War and was overseas for two years and three months. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (One Bronze Star), Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon. Tom was transferred from active duty to the Naval Reserves on November 18, 1968 in San Francisco, California. Tom was honorably discharged on November 15, 1970 with the rank of Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Aircraft Handler Airman. On May 12, 1972, Tom was united in marriage to Normalene (Graves) Poling at the Mt. Sterling Baptist Church in Mt. Sterling, Indiana. Tom and Normalene shared over 50 years of marriage together and was blessed with four children. Tom was employed for Seagram’s Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and for Randall’s Textron in Vevay, Indiana. He was later employed for McKay Gravure Systems in Florence, Kentucky for several years. Tom also worked for Red’s Package Store in Vevay, Indiana for several years. He was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and was active on the Honor Guard. Tom enjoyed fishing, playing cards and painting. He loved taking trips to Gatlinburg, Tennessee where he enjoyed taking his family and all his grandchildren for several years. Tom passed away at 4:27 a.m., Monday, August 8, 2022, at the Norton King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana.
Tom will be missed by his wife, Normalene (Graves) Adkins of Vevay, IN; his children, Ladonna Phillips of Vevay, IN, Pam Davis and her husband, Mike of Muncie, IN, Wesley Poling and his wife, Ragina of Vevay, IN and Carrianne Wilhoite of Carrollton, KY; his mother, Muriel G. “Jean” (O’Day) Adkins of Versailles, IN; his grandchildren, Justin Hartman, Sierra Phillips, Brandon Davis and his wife, Liz, Ashley Poling, Avery Poling, Amanda Wilhoite, Courtnei Gibson and Dalton Wilhoite; his great-grandchildren, Charlie, Nick and Michael Davis; his brothers, Teddy Adkins of CA, Timmy Adkins of Madison, IN, Pat Adkins of Akron, OH and Tracy Adkins of Versailles, IN; his sister, Mitzi May of Milan, IN; his brother-in-law, Bob Goodpaster of Versailles, IN and his many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Claude Adkins; his grandparents, Everett C. and Juanita (Ramseyer) O’Day and Delza Claude and Anna Elizabeth (Marquardt) Adkins; his grandson, Ryan Poling; his nephew, Garrett Goodpaster; his niece, Megan May; his brother, Michael “Mikey” Adkins; his sister, Denise Goodpaster and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Valia Adkins and David May.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 12, 2022, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 12, 2022, by Rev. Mike Jones, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Interment and full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vevay American Legion Post #185. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com