John Stanley "Lard" Adkins, 78, of Portsmouth, died Saturday, July 12, 2008, at his home.

He was born April 16, 1930, in Nauvoo, Washington Township, Ohio, to the late Lee Rigley and Herma Marie Lintz Adkins Sr.

Lard was a payroll clerk at the former Empire-Detroit Steel Corporation. He was a Korean War Army veteran, and a member and former club manager at the James Dickey Post 23 American Legion. He was also a member of the Moose Family Center in Portsmouth, and he was an avid bowler and golfer.

Surviving are his wife, Jo Ann Edmiston Adkins, whom he married April 22, 1988, in Goose Creek, S.C.; a son, Jon (Brenda) Adkins of Columbus; two daughters, Debbie (Dean) Schuler of Lucasville and Dana (Terry) Davidson of Cocoa, Fla.; three sisters, Willadean Piquinot of Roanoke, Va., and Shirley (Carl) Notter and Joyce (Gary) Gahm, all of Hilliard; a sister-in-law, Marjorie Adkins; seven grandchildren whom he dearly loved and had given each a special nickname, Shelly (Brian) Williams, Lisa (Billy) Esham, Brandi (Matt) Ashkettle, Amanda (Shawn) Rogers, Sara (Kevin Zook) Adkins, Jon Adkins and Lacey Adkins; eight great-grandchildren, Tucker, Jakeb, Breckon, Lucie, Lola, Jenna, Rayne and Jerimiah; stepchildren, Lisa and Craig Jones, Laura and Tony Glockner, and David Berkley and their families; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

In addition to his parents, three brothers, Harold, Butch and Earl Eugene Adkins, also preceded him in death.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with Chuck Turner officiating. The James Dickey Post 23 American Legion will conduct military graveside honors. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth.

7/15/08