Linda Louise (Mendenhall) Adkins (2008)

ADKINS, MENDENHALL, COULTER

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 1/11/2009 at 09:14:53

Earlham Advocate, Earlham, Iowa
June 2008

LINDA LOUISE ADKINS

Linda Louise Adkins, 59, died Sunday June 22, 2008, at Hospice Kavanaugh House on Grand in West Des Moines. Services were held Wednesday, June 25 at Bear Creek Friends Church in rural Earlham with Pastor Charles Lathrop officiating. El Donna Skahill and Juanita Coulter accompanied the congregation as they sang “Amazing Grace” and “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.”

Honorary bearer were Luke Zimmerman, Bob Greedy, Joe Dwyer, Lance Coulter, Mike Adkins, Jason Adkins, Kurt Adkins (deceased), Eric Adkins, Alex Adkins, Ann Vanderheiden, Chris Adkins, Grand Vanderheiden and Drew Vanderheiden. Private inurnment of cremains will be at a later date.

Linda L. Adkins was born the daughter of Charles and Martha Coulter Mendenhall on December 21, 1948 in Dexter, Iowa. She died at Hospice Kavanaugh House on Grand in West Des Moines, Iowa on June 22, 2008 at the age of 59 years, 6 months and 1 day.

Linda graduated from the Earlham High School in 1967 and then earned a Bachelor's Degree from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She went on to earn her Master's Degree from Drake University. Much of her formal education centered around education and with these tools Linda began teaching classes and was the librarian at the Girls Reformatory in Mitchellville for several years. She also was the Dexter School Elementary secretary for many years before becoming the Library Director for the Dexter Public working until very recently. Linda had a passion for books. She authored a few books, however was not published. She did write many book reviews for the Quaker Life Magazine. Linda also loved music, cooking, photography, dogs and spending time with family. She was the official family event planner, setting up trips, picnics, and such. Linda enjoyed traveling, especially to the mountains around Estes park, Colorado.

Linda is survived by her husband, Richard Adkins of Dexter; son, Benjamin Adkins and his wife Amy of West Des Moines; mother Martha Mendenhall and sister, Karen Mendenhall of Dexter.

Linda was preceded in death by her father, Charles Mendenhall, father and mother-in-law James C. and Antoinette Adkins; brother-in-law, James F. Adkins and cousin Russell Mendenhall.