Melvin Bunyan Adkins, of Vienna, was born on September 28, 1919, near Meta in Maries County, a son of Andrew Gideon and Gertie (Vaughan) Adkins, and departed this life at 7:30 a.m., Monday, June 17, 2013 at the Westphalia Hills Care Center, Westphalia. Mr. Adkins had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 93 years, 8 months, and 19 days.

Mr. Adkins was united in marriage on June 14, 1941, at Dixon, to Mildred Minnie Hickey, and to this union, two children were born. He was preceded in death by his wife on February 17, 2012; his father on November 18, 1957; his mother on September 23, 1973; one brother Thurman Adkins on October 31, 1993; one sister, Effie Thelma Adkins on April 5, 1914, at the age of ten months; three grandchildren, Steffan Eugene Adkins on December 30, 1969; Warren Daniel Adkins on February 15, 1971, and Chastity Rae Adkins on June 1, 1975.

Mr. Adkins was a World War II United States Army veteran. He was baptized in 1952 by Rev. Earl Brown in the Tavern Creek near Wheeler Church and was a member of the Campground Christian Church, Meta. He was a lifelong farmer in Maries County and had worked in construction as a carpenter. He retired in 1981 from Maries R-1 School as a custodian.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Adkins include one daughter and son-in-law, Melvena and Billy Snodgrass, Meta; one son and daughter-in-law, Marshall and Audrey Adkins, Dixon; three sisters, Lillian Wallace, Vandalia; Evelyn Terwilliger and husband, Dallas, Eldon and Eunice Adkins, Osage Beach; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted for Mr. Adkins at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 20, 2013, in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes with Bro. Manuel Seaton, Campground Christian Church, Meta, officiating. Three musical selections, "It Is Well With My Soul", "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow", and "Go Rest High On That Mountain" were played for the service.

Interment was in the Crismon Cemetery, near Vienna, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Pallbearers for Mr. Adkins were Russell Snodgrass, Rowdy Snodgrass, Rhonda Schwartz, Bill Snodgrass, Jr., Jamey Snodgrass, Bryce Snodgrass, Caleb Schwartz, Roy Schwartz, Kevin Rehagen, and Jason Reeves. Honorary pallbearers were Dana Rehagen, Laurie Reeves, Amber Snodgrass, Casey Schwartz, Mikayla Snodgrass, Kaedyn Rehagen, Aubrey Reeves, Kynlee Rehagen, Talan Reeves, Rick Duncan, Randy Duncan, and Tim Duncan.

Memorials are suggested by the family to the Crismon Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund with envelopes available at the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.