Obituary of Gid Adkisson

Gid B. Adkisson, Jr. passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at his home on the family farm a few miles east of Abernathy, following several months of declining health. Funeral services were at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 28, 2012, in the Abernathy High School Auditorium. Burial followed in the Abernathy Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home and Flower Shop of Abernathy, TX. The family received friends at Abell Funeral Home on Friday, April 27th from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm. Gid was born July 30, 1922, to Gid Sr., and Nellie Adkisson, and, with the exception of his college and war years, lived his entire life in the home of his birth. The youngest of six children, he attended Abernathy schools, graduating in 1940. He attended Texas A&M and, along with his entire class, enlisted the Army in the spring of 1943, one semester shy of a degree. While at A&M, he met and fell in love with Marie Hall, from Levelland, who was attending Texas Tech. They became engaged and sandwiched a Thanksgiving weddin in between graduaton from Army OCS and training in the Arizona desert in preparation for the invasion of Europe. As a platoon leader with the 317th Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, he landed on Utah Beach on August 6, 1944 and saw much combat moving across France and Luxembourg and into Germany. He received the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He was wounded a third time, but refused a Purple Heart because his wound was minor, and he had lost many men as company commander of Able Company, when they were caught in a crossfire as they attacked across open terrain. Returning to the farm in December 1945, he rejoined his wife and met his eleven month old son. He welcomed the tranquility of home and farm life. Over the next few years, the family grew to seven; three boys and two girls followed a few years later by another daughter. Gid chose not to pursue outside interests, and though he was dedicated to family and farming, sensed an obligation to make a contribution on a larger scale. That sense was addressed when, in the late summer of 1958, at the age of 36, he was asked to fill in temporarily as a high school math teacher. Within a few weeks, he knew that he had found his niche. Over the years, he moved from the classroom to junior high principle, then elementary principle, HONDA special education coordinator, and eventually superintendent of the school district. His career spanned 28 years. For Gid, teaching was a calling. He was a natural leader whose passion was to help people, and it showed in the way he connected with and affirmed students, fellow teachers, and all who worked for him. He had a rare ability to foster a sense of dignity and value in everyone he met. After retirement in 1986, he continued tutoring, pursued woodworking, and bacame a volunteer at the Lubbock Methodist Hospital. he was a member of the Methodist Church, Lions Club, TSTA, NEA, Retired School Administrators, and Classroomm Teachers Association. His greatest source of satisfaction, however, was his 68 years with the woman he loved, and knowing his children and grandchildren were doing well. He had a lasting impact on an entire community. He will never be replaced. He is survived by his wife, Marie Adkisson of Abernathy, 2 sons, Gid Adkisson, III and wife Vickie of Fresno, CA and Dr. Tom Adkisson and wife Claire of Winston-Salem, NC, 3 daughters, Annette Ortega and husband Framk of Amarillo, TX, Suzanne Pointer and husband Jack of Humble, TX and Linda Cohea and husband Richard of Franktown, CO, 13 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, a sister, Alice Richter and husband Hugo of Aubrey, TX. The family would like to thank Paul Garcia and Accolade Hospice for the wonderful care they provided to Gid. Memorials may be made to the Moorehead-Bettie Hardin Scholarship Fund, Abernathy, TX 79311; First United Methodist Churlch, 704 Ave. D, Abernathy, TX 79311, Lubbock State Supported Living Center, 3401 N. University, Lubbock, TX 79415; or a favorite charity. Abell Funeral Home