Russell G. Adkins

Russell G. Adkins, 78, of Strasburg and former Chief of Police for the Village of Strasburg passed away Thursday, July 8, 2010 at Union Hospital following a long illness.

Born March 1, 1932 in Shelby, Ohio, he was the son of the late Ernest and Emma (Easterling) Adkins.

Russ retired on April 1, 1984 as Police Chief where he served for ten years. He had also previously served as Deputy Sheriff in Ashland County.

He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1949-1952. Russ was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Association of Chief's of Police and the Police & Fire Retirees of Ohio. He enjoyed politics and spent a lot of his time in recent years watching politics on the news.

He is survived by his wife, Virgie Graves Adkins with whom he celebrated thirty five years of marriage on February 14; three sons, C.J. (wife, Stephanie) Smith of Akron, John Smith of Massillon and Russell Mark Adkins of Butler, Ohio; two daughters, Debra (husband, Donald) Adkins of Crestline and Diana (husband, James) Haley of Shelby; one brother, Robert (wife, Jamie) Adkins of Mansfield and a sister, Linda (husband, Bill) Eldridge of Shelby along with eleven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Russ was preceded in death by a daughter, Anna Lee Smith, three brothers, Merval, Dale, and Donald Adkins and five sisters, Mary K. Adkins, Hazel Cooper, Lorain Roberts, Alice Bushey, and Bernice Pittenger.

A celebration of Russ's life will be held Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 1:30pmin the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at Dover with Pastor Brian Flood officiating. Cremation will follow the services. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of Russ may sign the online guestbook by visiting the "obituaries" link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com

Toland-Herzig, Dover
330 343-6132