Herbert Cyril Elkins

HERBERT CYRIL ELKINS, age 90, passed away February 28, 2019. He was the much beloved husband of Georgia Elkins, his wife of 65 years who survives him. Herbert is preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Leota Scripter Elkins, his brothers Eugene and Keith; sisters Ruby, Evelyn and Bonnie; foster brother Cline Bates. He is preceded in death by daughters Karen Jo and infants Nelda and Lorena. Herbert is survived by wife Georgia, daughters Tina (Shawn Godwin), Gail Ann, (Mitchell E. Brown); grandsons Duncan Godwin, and Jesse Brown; survived also by his brothers Paul, Edward, and Christopher, sister Lorena, foster brother Loren Bates and numerous nieces and nephews. Herbert was born January 21, 1929 in Sheridan, West Virginia. He was raised in Branchland, West Virginia by his foster family of Veturia Bates and Raymond & Ottelia Bates. He graduated from Guyan Valley High School in 1946 where he played football, then enlisted in the Army Air Corp (Air Force) in 1948. He was stationed in Japan in the Special Services Athletic Division. He was awarded the Japanese Occupation Medal, the UN Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal and left as an Airman First Class in 1952. He was a member of the VFW Post 703. Herbert met Georgia Toney of Maxine, West Virginia at Marshall College. They married in 1953 and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. Herbert went to work for Republic Steel as a millwright in 1953. He worked for Republic Steel-LTV Steel for nearly 40 years until retiring in 1993 where he worked at the 84” Cold Mill. Herbert was always an active member of the Steelworkers Union, Local 2265 and was a union representative with the Labor Management Participation Team in the 1980s. As a retiree he continued to be an active member of the Steelworker’s Organization of Active Retirees. Herbert and his family moved to Parma, Ohio in 1978. He continued to live there until his passing. He will be remembered for his many years of hard and difficult work, his good-natured humor and love of sports. Herbert was also a great teller of stories, often telling stories of growing up in rural West Virginia during the Depression. He was a most loving and dedicated husband, father and grandfather who is deeply missed. Herbert died at UH Parma Hospital on February 28, 2019 after suffering a heart attack on February 26, 2019.

Friends may call at THE KOLODIY-LAZUTA FUNERAL HOME, 5677 STATE RD., PARMA, MONDAY 5-7 P.M. PRIVATE FUNERAL SERVICE AND INTERMENT AT BROOKLYN HEIGHTS CEMETERY.