Obituary

Donald Leland Elkins
(April 30, 1939 - October 12, 2017)

Donald Leland Elkins, 78, of Ona, WV passed peacefully at Chateau Grove Senior Living, Barboursville, WV on October 12, 2017. Don was born April 30, 1939 in Logan County, the youngest child of Curtis Elkins and Alice Frye Elkins Lafferty. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Helen Ruth Rimmer Elkins in 2014, his brother James Elkins, sister Shelva Jean Elkins, and half-sister Pamela Marcum. He is survived by three children, Kathy Jackson (Robert), Kevin Elkins (Karen) and Karen Holley; four grandchildren, Joshua Jackson (Christina), Jessica Cooke (Robert), Katelyn Holley, and Hannah Holley; eight great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Ainsley, Gage, Rylie, and Joshlyn Jackson; Madelyn, Jackson, and Oliver Cooke; a sister-in-law, Jane Nickerson; three half-sisters, Becky Wells, Cheryl Plybon, and Lisa Sexton along with several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Don spent his early years in Logan but moved to Ona as a teenager and lived in the area for the remainder of his life. He was a graduate of Milton High School Class of 1957. Never a stranger to hard work from his first job delivering newspapers in Logan as a very young boy, Don was a bit of an entrepreneur. He owned several area businesses including Elkins Insurance Agency and Elkins Trucking Company. At the time of his passing, Don had been a friend of Bill W. for over two decades, an association which saved his life. Until his health declined, he was very active in the recovery community, leading groups and sharing his personal story of achieving sobriety in hopes that it would be a testament to others that there is always hope for recovery from addiction. As Don’s disease progressed, the assistance of companions over the last years became necessary. Thanks to Jozi Warner, Judy Lawson, Rod and Lisa Jarvis, granddaughters Jessica and Hannah, and grand son-in-law, Bob, he was able to remain in his home until early 2017 when he moved to Chateau Grove. The family wishes to express their great appreciation to the owners and entire staff of Chateau Grove for the kind and compassionate care they provided Don over the last months of his life. Visitation will be Sunday from 6-8 p.m. at Wallace Funeral Home, Milton. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Simon Morrison, a life-long friend of the family, at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 16, 2017, at Wallace Funeral Home, Milton Burial will be in Rimmer Cemetery, Ona.