O. W. Elkins' Obituary
Funeral services for Oliver Wayne Elkins, 97, of Longview will be held at 10 Am Monday, December 21, 2009, at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Pat Sparks and Rev. Mike Schutz officiating. Burial will follow at Rosewood Park Cemetery. Dr. Elkins died on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 in Longview.
Dr. Elkins was born on October 12, 1912 in Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. He grew up in Junction City, Louisiana-Arkansas, a city divided by the state line. His home was in Louisiana, and he attended school across the state line in Arkansas. He earned his bachelor of medicine degree from Louisiana State University in 1937 and interned at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He received his doctor of medicine degree from Louisiana State University in 1938. That same year he joined Dr. R. J. Van Sickle and Dr. Isadore Goldboom at the former Van Sickle Clinic Hospital in Longview. Dr. Elkins had over five years of service in the Medical Corps during World War II and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was with the first American casualties after a German U-boat attack during the Battle of the Atlantic. He was later assigned to the 212th General Hospital in New Guinea and later served in Manilla in the Philippines. Dr. Elkins returned to general practice in Longview in 1946. He married the beautiful Maxine Sanders on December 31, 1949, and they were married for 59 years until Maxine?s death on March 29, 2009. Dr. Elkins was elected chief of staff at Good Shepherd Hospital for the year 1968-1969. He had been a member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Academy of General Practice and the Gregg County Medical Society. He practiced at both Markham Hospital and Good Shepherd Hospital. Upon his retirement in 1986, then mayor, Lou Galosy, proclaimed April 30, 1986 as Dr. O. W. Elkins Day in Longview. Dr. Elkins was honored for his contribution to the health and well-being of many people, his demonstration for his total commitment to our community, and his service as the City Health Officer for 16 years. During the span of his 48 year career as a physician, Dr. Elkins displayed his skills as a surgeon, delivered hundreds of babies and was a remarkable diagnostician. Most of all, he was a loving and caring friend to all of his patients. Dr. Elkins was an enthusiastic hunter. He particularly enjoyed is father-son hunts in Alabama and Mason, Texas. He was also an avid golfer and a very loyal football fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the LSU Tigers. He was active member of First United Methodist Church, where he had been a member of the Men?s Sunday School Class.
Pallbearers will be Gary Akins, Craig Bivins, Jeb Blount, Kent Lowrey, Marc Perkins, John Ray and Jim Wright. Honorary Pallbearers will be Hubert Akins, Tom Landers, Doyle Flatt, and Danny Downing.
He is survived by his son, David, and his wife, Celia, granddaughter, Lindsay or ?Halftime? as he so affectionately called her, and her husband, Brandon Barron, and by his daughter, Ann Elkins Brown, and granddaughter, Leigh Ann Brown. The Elkins Family gratefully acknowledges the care givers that gave so much of their love, time and talents to Dr. Elkins for the last five years. The family also wishes to thank the doctors and the devoted staff at Margaret?s House for the loving care Dr. Elkins and the family received during his stay. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Longview, Texas, 400 N. Fredonia Street, Longview, Texas 75601, Beacon Hospice at Margaret?s House, P. O. Box 5908, Longview, Texas 75608, or a charity of your choice. Services are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2009, at the funeral home. A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com
What’s your fondest memory of O. W.?
What’s a lesson you learned from O. W.?
Share a story where O. W.'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with O. W. you’ll never forget.
How did O. W. make you smile?