Doyle Eakins

Doyle Wayne Eakins, 82, of Whitewater passed away Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born July 30, 1939, in Crump, son of Sylvanus and Hester Proffer Eakins. He and Wanda Hennecke were married on March 31, 1962, at Whitewater United Methodist Church in Whitewater.

Doyle attended grade school in Crump and was a graduate of Delta High School Class of 1957. He enlisted in the Army in April 1959. His basic training was in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Doyle was trained as a radio relay and carrier operator and was then sent to Korea. In February 1961 Doyle was honorably discharged at the rank of E-4 SP4 (T); during his service he received a Good Conduct Medal.

In 1961, he began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a lineman. He deservingly retired as a supervisor in 1992, after 32 years of service.

After retirement, he enjoyed working on various projects with the Telephone Pioneers.

Doyle was an active member of the Whitewater United Methodist Church in Whitewater, where he served in various roles and sang in the choir for many years. He was active in the community and instrumental in establishing the water district for the towns of Whitewater and Allenville in 1997.

Loving survivors include his wife of 59 years, Wanda Eakins; two daughters, Debra (Tim) Bradshaw and Stacy (Craig) Carnell, both of Jackson; four granddaughters, Jessica Bradshaw, Megan (Caleb) Newcomer, Allison Carnell and Miranda Carnell; two sisters, Deanna (Vincent) Friedrich of Oak Ridge and Darlene Eakins of Whitewater.

Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Doyle was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Donald Eakins; and four sisters, Dorothy Scholz, Delthia Crader, Delma Stroder and Della Abernathy.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Don Kuehle and Jimmy Corbin officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may take the form of contributions to Whitewater United Methodist Church in Whitewater or Proffer Cemetery in Crump.

To send an online condolence to the family, visit McCombs Funeral Home's website at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com; then click on the tribute wall tab of Doyle's personal obituary.

Traditional gifts, cards and contributions may be sent to the family at McCombs Funeral Home, c/o Doyle Eakins, 640 W. Independence St., Jackson, MO 63755.