Ted Earl Akin was the second-yougest son of Joe and Eva Akin. He had an older sister, Floy, and seven brothers. He grew up in Stockdale, Texas, and graduated from Stockdale High School. As a boy he worked at various farming jobs in the area. After graduation from high school, he held various jobs in retail sales and then went to work for Mobil Oil and worked for that company for 30 years until he retired. As a young boy and through his high school years, he was a good friend of Clayton Heathcock, father of the keeper of this genealogy site, Clayton Heathcock Jr. He has been very useful in filling in details of my father’s early life. At the time of this writing, Ted is a month short of 97 years old and has a remarkably sharp memory. He lives with Edith in a neat little house in Stockdale and is actively involved in life. He only gave up driving a few years ago, but Edith, at age 93, still drives them to church and takes herself to the hair dresser, and sometimes to the grocery store.

Ted Akin1284

Ted E. Akin was born on November 19, 1911, in the Alum community of Wilson County, Texas, to William Joseph and John Eva (Dawson) Akin and passed away February 10, 2011. He grew up in the Alum community attending Alum school and then graduating from Stockdale High School in 1930. Ted was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, Calvin, Kelly Preston, Joe, Alton, Clyde, Gresham, and Lester; one sister, Floy (Mrs. Roy) Garner; and two beloved sons, Ronald Ray Akin and Ted Smith Akin. Ted is survived by his loving wife of 76 years, Edith Smith Akin; one daughter, Judy and husband, Larry Childress of Stockdale; five grandchildren, Ted Brent Akin and wife Judy Lynn of Stockdale, Brad Akin and wife Leslie of Seguin, Lance Childress and wife Jennifer of San Antonio, Larianne Hastings and husband David of Coppell, and Luke Childress of Austin; seven great-grandchildren, Stephenae, Ted Dawson, Matthew, and Claire Akin, Emma and Holden Childress; and many loving nieces and nephews. Ted and Edith were married on May 19, 1934, in San Antonio. Before returning to Stockdale in 1953, they lived in Kenedy, Taft, and San Antonio. Ted served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, assigned to the USS Granville. He was proud to have served his country and was most proud of his Navy memorabilia. Ted was an active member of First Baptist Church, Stockdale, Texas since 1953. For a number of years he was Scoutmaster for the Stockdale Boy Scouts and a member of the Stockdale Volunteer Fire Dept for over thirty years. He was a 60 year member of the Stockdale Masonic Lodge #470, having served as Past Master; a former member of the Stockdale American Legion Post; a former member of the Order of Eastern Star and the Stockdale Chamber of Commerce. Ted also served on the Board of Directors of the Stockdale Housing Authority for over twenty years, beginning in 1969 with the board's inception. Ted was employed by Mobil Oil Company as a consignee. He served in this position for twenty-five years, retiring in 1978. Visitation will be held Friday, February 11, 2011 at Finch Funeral Chapel from 1:00 PM- 8:00 PM . The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM

Service
Saturday
February 12, 2011
2:00 PM
First Baptist Church
Stockdale, TX

Reverend Maurice Smith will be officiating, assisted by Brother Scott Jones. The interment will follow at the Stockdale Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Pandora Baptist Fellowship Steeple Fund, C/O First Baptist Church, Box 95 Stockdale, Texas 78160 or Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890 Amarillo, TX 79174. You are invited to sign the online guest book at www.finchfuneralchapels.com .

According to Ted Akin, he first became infatuated with Edith when they shared a classroom in the one-room Stockdale High School. He was four years older than her so she was in grade 7 when he was in grade 11 (the highest grade at that time). Ted recounted that Edith’s seat was by the door and when she wanted to attract a boy she was interested in she would stick out her foot and trip him when he walked out the door. This story was told in Edith’s presence and she denied it, but with a twinkle in her eye, suggesting that it holds some truth. He also said that “she was a real cute little thing.” Further details of the courship were not forthcoming, but it was obvioulsy a successful one because they had been married for 74 years and 6 months at the time the story was told.14 For many years, Edith operated a flower shop in Stockdale.

Edith Smith had 3 brothers and 4 sisters; research.