James Francis Akin Jr.

resident of Nashville, TN dies on the 28th day of August 2016 at the age of

91 years.

Mr. Akin is survived by his wife of 73 years, Charlotte (Richbourg); two

children: James Claude Akin, Sr. ( Spouse: Dana Akin ) and Penny M.

Forney (spouse: Roy C Forney); 4 grandchildren and 4 great

grandchildren.

James was born in Nashville, TN, the only son of James F Akin, Sr. and

Mae Akin. He was a member of Bellevue Church of Christ.

After volunteering, he reported to the army for active duty on May 15, 1943.

He was assigned to the Signal Corp. After basic training and

communication school, he was sent to England to make ready for the

Normandy Invasion. He was part of the 246th Signal Operations Company.

His first combat came on D-Day when he was in the 3rd wave to land at

Omaha beach. He saw continual combat in 5 campaigns,

Normandy,Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.

When General Patton was put in charge of the 3rd Army, he was assigned

to the 3rd. He was part of the force that broke the German forces at the

Battle of the Bulge. Later he helped to liberate the death camp at

Buchenwald on the Ettersberg near Weimar, Germany. For his service he

received the Good Conduct Metal and 5 Bronze Stars for the above

mentioned campaigns. On October 24, 1945 he was discharged from the

Army.

After leaving the Army he held a couple jobs but ended up working for the

US Department of Veterans Affairs then transferred to work for the

Veterans Hospital. He retired after 35 years in 1992. The discipline and

Patriotism he learned in his early years stayed with him all his life as friend

and family will attest.

Mr. Akin became a Mason in 1963, rising to 32nd Degree Mason. He was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8706 in Moore, OK. He enjoyed giving his time to others and spent as much time as possible with family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, September 1, 2016, at one o’clock, Woodlawn’s Dignity Hall. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Gathering of Family & Friends will be held Wednesday from four o’clock until eight o’clock and Thursday from noon until the funeral hour at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home.

Visit the online obituary: www.woodlawn-roesch-pattonfh.com.