Charles W. Adkins, a long-time Big Rapids resident and local businessman, passed away on November 23. He was 93. Raised in Grand Rapids, he was a graduate of Creston High School and continued his education at Ferris Institute. While at Ferris, he met Elizabeth Osburn, whom he married on August 22, 1941. They built a home opposite her childhood home, Osburndale, on Lilac Avenue and lived there with a view of the Muskegon River for the 67 years of their married life. She preceded him in death. His survivors include his daughter and son-in-law Peg and Art Tetzlaff of Big Rapids and his son Tom of Mobile, Alabama, his granddaughter, Alicia (Andy) Bay, and grandsons Adam (Rachel) Tetzlaff and Todd (Tricia) Tetzlaff, and five great grandchildren. Also surviving are his sister, Vivian A. White, nephews James R. White, Ronald P. White, Charles O. Schmunk, Charles G. Osburn, Bradley R. Osburn, and nieces Virginia S. Cooper, Ann S. McDaniels, Katherine O.Bailey and Sylvia O. Edwards. Charles served with distinction in the U.S. Navy during WW II in the Pacific Theatre and was stationed on Tinian Island at the time of VJ Day. Upon his return to Big Rapids after the war, he went to work at Hanchett Magna-Lock as an electrical engineer and designer of large locking devices including a unique magnet used by NASA for the painting of nose cones on early space vehicles. In 1962, he opened his own business, Adkins Electric on N. Michigan Ave. and later moved to 801 N. State St. He sold that business and retired in 1972. He was very active in the 1950s in local government and served prominently on the Planning Commission. A long-time member of First United Methodist Church, he was actively involved on many committees and was instrumental in the building's interior re-design. Charles was an enthusiastic outdoorsman with a particular enjoyment of fly fishing, even tying his own flies. In his retirement, he moved from tent camping to traveling with his wife in an RV. They drove as far as Alaska and to the Gulf Coast every winter for several months of "snow birding" in the warmer climate. A memorial Service will take place 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church, 304 Elm St. in Big Rapids; the Rev. Dean Prentiss officiating. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids. His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Endowment Fund of First United Methodist Church of Big Rapids.