Tony Ray Adkins

Tony Ray Adkins 81, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2025 at Carolina East Medical Center. A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 10 A.M. at Garber Methodist Church, 4201 Country Club Road, Trent Woods, N.C.

Born in Danville, Virginia on September 23, 1943 to Warren and Ruby Nowlin Adkins. Tony graduated from Brosville High School, and Virginia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and began a 30 year career in Civil Service with the United States Government. His career was interrupted to serve 4 years in the United States Navy after graduating from Officer Candidate School at Newport, R. I. After serving as a Lieutenant, Tony resumed his engineering career at Norfolk Naval Base and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. During his time at Cherry Point, Tony was nominated and graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College Norfolk, VA. as a civilian member of an Armed Forces class. Tony was known as a dedicated man of integrity by both civilian and military personnel.

Upon his retirement from civil service, Tony began his second career as an antique dealer and manager at New Bern Antiques and Collectibles. Tony was known and respected for his integrity and management skills by his fellow shareholders and friends.

Tony loved fishing, boating, wood working, antiquing, vacations at Hatteras, and
cherished time with family and the four grand girls.

Tony is preceded in death by his parents Warren and Ruby Nowlin Adkins and his sister Wanda A. Gower. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years Nancy S. Adkins and his children Susan Metcalfe (Johnny) and Robby Adkins and his four grand girls Maggie, Marci, Tucker, and Molly. Also survived by sister Donna Shackelford (Lundy) nieces Kristi and Laura Shackelford and sister in law Evelyn Still.

Tony will be remembered for his kindness, intelligence, unwavering integrity and his love for Nancy and his family. His humor and wisdom were gifts to everyone who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, 1702 Red Robin Ln, New Bern, N.C. 28562.

Bennett Funeral & Cremation Care is honored to serve the family and friends of Tony Adkins.

"When great trees fall and when great souls die, after a period, peace blooms slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing, electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whispers to us. They existed. We can be. Be and better. For they existed." -- Maya Angelou