CHICOPEE – Paul W. Adkins, 87, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home Sunday, March 23, 2025. He passed into Eternal Life at the East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Chelyan, West Virginia on August 22, 1937, a beloved son of the late Roy and Grace (Blake) Adkins. He was raised in Belle, West Virginia, graduated from Dupont High School, and immediately enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1955 at the age of 17, where he was stationed at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee. He later moved to Chicopee in February of 1971 where he lived the remainder of his life. He served his country during the Vietnam War in the United States Air Force and attained the rank of Master Sergeant. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was a security guard at the Mass Mutual Insurance Company in Springfield and retired in 1999. He previously was a film printer at the former FilmTech in Westfield, and a cameraman for WWLP Channel 22. Paul was very generous with his time and talents serving on the Building Committees for Chicopee Comprehensive and Chicopee High Schools, he volunteered many hours as a driver for the Chicopee Senior Center, and assisted and helped start many programs for veterans in the area. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Annette A. (Boissonnault) Adkins. They were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Holyoke on June 20, 1959 and they were blessed with over 65 years of happiness together. He also leaves his four loving and devoted children, Annette M. Pelletier and her husband, Rene, of Chicopee, Paul W. Adkins, Jr. and his wife, Susan, of Wilbraham, Ruth A. St. Laurent and her husband, Gregory, of Chicopee, and David R. Adkins and his wife, Dawn, of Snellville, GA; his ten cherished grandchildren, Sean Dziedzic and his companion, Allie Wheeler, Brooke Pelletier, Casey Pelletier, Lindsay Marzano-Lesnevich and her husband, Walter, Benjamin Adkins and his wife, Isabella, Kelsey Grilli and her husband, Dominic, Gregory St. Laurent, Zachary St. Laurent and his companion, Jade Samlall, Joshua Adkins and his wife, Sally, and Bradley Adkins; his three cherished great grandchildren, Avery, Darcy, and Luca; his dear brother, David Adkins, his dear sister, Susan Gibson, and his dear sister-in-law, Wanda Adkins, all of Indiana; his two dear brothers-in-law, Donald Boissonnault of South Hadley and Richard Boissonneault and his wife, Jean, of Wilbraham; his dear sister-in-law, Doris Kennedy of Holyoke; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and extended family members. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by eight dear siblings. His family would like to thank the staff at East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center, Encompass Rehab, and Spectrum Legacy Hospice, for the care and compassion they gave to Paul. His relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Service on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (funeral home will open at 11:30 a.m.). His Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Celebration of Life Service at 2 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 229, Marlborough, MA 01752 or https://help.dav.org/page/52572/donate. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
