More detail on this person: CHIEF WARRANT
OFFICER 4 LAT G. ADKINS, US ARMY (RETIRED)
of Catlettsburg, Ky., passed away Sunday, August
9, 2015, at Community Hospice Care Center after a
13-year battle with cancer. CWO Adkins was born
December 3, 1941, in Mud Fork, Logan County,
W.Va., a son of the late William Everett and Esta
Marie Kirk Adkins. He was also preceded in death
by his wife Loretta Carol Bryant Adkins in 2003,
his brothers Bill and Garry, and sister Brookie
Donahoe. He is survived by three sons, Lat Gerald
Adkins Jr and his wife Mary of Oklahoma City,
Okla., Jonathon Kevin Adkins and his wife Dovetta
of Catlettsburg, and Matthew Kirk Adkins and his
wife Monica of Midland, Va.; six grandchildren,
Jacob, Jared, Marianna, Jeanna, Jonathon Jr., and
Kimber. He is also survived by one sister, Neltha
Gibson of Tennessee. Mr. Adkins began his military
career in 1959 entering the US Air Force, after
four years he left the Air Force and shortly
thereafter joined the US Army completing Warrant
Officer Basic Course and Flight School at Fort
Rucker, Alabama. He served overseas tours in the
Philippines, Germany and Vietnam. With over 8,000
hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command, Mr.
Adkins flew more than 700 combat hours and
numerous fixed wing and helicopter aircraft. Lat
was decorated many times throughout his military
career but was most proud of being considered a
Master Army Aviator. He retired with 20 years
active duty in 2001 with service in both the
regular Army and National Guard. In civilian life
Mr. Adkins was the proprietor of the Western Auto
Store in Catlettsburg from 1972 until 1985 and
after closing the store was one of the first
pilots for Healthnet Aeromedical Services at
Cabell Huntington Hospital. During his tenure
there he responded to hundreds of trauma and
medical calls throughout the Tri-State area. Many
people today owe their lives to Mr. Adkins and the
crews from Healthnet due to their airmanship and
professionalism. Lat was a master craftsman as
well and his love of building things, fixing
things and flying things was unequaled except in
comparison to the love he gave his family
especially his grandchildren. A funeral service to
honor Mr. Adkins will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday,
August 12, 2015, at the Kilgore & Collier Funeral
Home, Panola Street, Catlettsburg. Chaplain Oscar
Rose will officiate. Final resting place in Golden
Oaks Memorial Gardens. Military honors by Kenova
Post 93 and the US Army. Visiting hours will be 11
a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral
home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in
Mr. Adkins' memory to Community Hospice, 1480
Carter Ave., Ashland, KY 41101. Condolences may
be sent to www.kilgorecollierfuneralhome.com
Published in www.herald-dispatch.com/ on Aug. 11,
2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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