Donald J. "Don" Akers Obituary (1924

Mr. Donald J. "Don" Akers, age 91, of Madison, Indiana entered this life on December 14, 1924 in Lebanon, Indiana. He was the son of the late Noble Dewey and Harriett Ashley Akers. He was raised in Carrollton, Kentucky and was a 1943 graduate of Carrollton High School. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. He was inducted into the Army Air Corps on August 24, 1943 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky during World War II and rose to the rate of Sergeant. He served in the 500 Bomb Squadron, 345 Bomb Group. While serving he attended the Sioux Falls South Dakota Radio School for 24 weeks receiving instructions in the operation and repair of all Army Air Corps radio sets. While serving with the 345th Bomb Group he served as the Radio Operator Mechanic Gunner in the Northern Pacific area and Japan for eight months. While serving he was a member of their crew who flew a B-25 and was instrumental in operating the radio from Plane to ground, received and sent international Morse code at the rate of 18 words per minute and made the necessary repairs on the radio and guns while in flight. He was also in charge of keeping all the logs on all radio messages received and sent. Don was honorably discharged on March 11, 1946 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana receiving the American Theater Ribbon, the Asiatic-pacific Theater Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Don then re-enlisted and served until March 11, 1949. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth "Libby" Ashmore on June 9, 1948 in Greenville, South Carolina. This union was blessed with one son, Terry and one daughter, Jane. He moved to Madison in 1950. He worked at Jefferson Proving Ground as a Proof Director testing ammunition for twenty-four years before retiring in 1985. He also worked at the Deputy Elementary School for four years teaching a Veterans Class. Don and Libby enjoyed wintering in Winter Haven, Florida for twenty years. He was a member of First Christian Church in downtown Madison and enjoyed playing tennis and golf. He was expecting another great grandson due in December. Don died on Saturday, September 3, 2016, at 1:47 a.m. at the King's Daughters' Hospital in Madison, Indiana. Click Here for Funeral Service Video SURVIVORS Donald will be missed by his loving wife of 68 years, Elizabeth "Libby" Ashmore Akers of Madison, Indiana; his son, Terry J. Akers and his wife Beverly of Bethlehem, Georgia; his daughter, Jane Martin and her husband, Thomas of Lafayette, Indiana; his grandchildren, Melissa Crisp, Kristopher Akers, Valerie Martin, Shelly, Eric, and Andrew Martin; his great-grandchildren, Nicholaus, Katelynn, Britain, Karissa, Wil & Rohan; his sisters, Barbara Borchardt of Lexington, Kentucky, Shirley O'Dell of Augusta Georgia and Anna Jean Asch of West Bend, Wisconsin; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Noble Dewey and Harriett Ashley Akers, his sister, Joan Tandy and his brother, Dee Ashley Akers. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., By Pastor Bill Johnson at the First Christian Church, 512 West Main Street in downtown Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1415 North Gate Road in Madison, Indiana. VISITATION Friends may call Tuesday, September 6, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the First Christian Church, 512 West Main Street in downtown Madison, Indiana. MILITARY HONORS A final salute will be conducted on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the First Christian Church in downtown Madison by Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion with full military honors to follow at the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel 1415 North Gate Road in Madison, Indiana by Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of King's Daughters' Hospital or the First Christian Church. Cards are available at the funeral home or at the Church. Online condolences, www.morgan-nay.com Secure">http://www.paysimple.com/security.html">Secure Payments To send a flower arrangement in memory of Donald J. "Don" Akers, please click here to visit our sympathy store.