Edna May Eakins

Edna May Eakins, 93, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at Wesley on Grand in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 27 at 10:30 AM at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, with burial at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM, Wednesday, June 26, at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church.

Edna was born June 26, 1930 in Des Moines, Iowa to Alva L. and Mamie B. (Shorey) Baldwin. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1948. While there, she studied secretarial skills and participated in chorus.

After graduation, Edna worked as a secretary for General Electric in the executive office, until her marriage to Keith E. Eakins Sr. in 1951, when Keith was called to active duty in the USAF, and the couple moved to Bangor, Maine. While Keith served at Lackland Air Force Base, Edna worked for the Civil Service in a secretarial role until the birth of their first child. After returning to Des Moines, Edna was a stay at home mom until all the children had started school. She then served as an elementary school librarian for Urbandale Public Schools. She later worked in clerical roles at Ardan Stores, then Greyhound Bus Lines. She worked part time at People’s Finance before retiring at the age of 71.

Edna had many hobbies and interests including reading, gardening, sewing, doll collection and repair, furniture repair, puzzles, crosswords, and coloring.

She was an amazing wife and was married to Keith for nearly 73 years prior to his passing on March 17, 2024. Edna loved being a mom and was very involved in her family’s activities including volunteering in Boy Scout and Girl Scouts, attending school activities, graduations, birthdays and many more special events and volunteering activities. Edna was very proud of her family, and often shared stories of their accomplishments.

Edna had deep faith that was her guide throughout her life. She was very involved in church activities and was a charter member of Windsor Heights Lutheran Church. She loved working with children and she was a Sunday school teacher for over 50 years, primarily for Kindergarten children. She participated in choir, women’s groups, and bible studies, and shared her secretarial skills in the church office. She encouraged her family’s involvement in many church activities as well.

Edna is survived by five children; Cheryl Murphy, Keith Jr. (Cheryl Sander), Debra (Bryan) Spangler, Rebecca Russell, and Linda (Anthony) Russell; 17 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Keith Sr.; brother, James Baldwin Sr.; brother-in-law, Wayne Eakins Jr.; sister-in-law, Carol Johnston, sons-in-law, Dan Murphy and Wayne Russell; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Eakins; and granddaughter, Carrie Russell.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to Windsor Heights Lutheran Church or Lutheran World Relief.