Ernest Ray Atkins, age 86, passed from this life in Andover, Kansas on Saturday, December 3, 2016. He was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on August 24, 1930, the only son of Acy Quitman Atkins and Della Mae Barrett Atkins. He married Patsy Almarie Hall, also of Hot Springs, on December 1, 1951. Soon after they married Ernie began a 29-year career with the U. S. Air Force that sent him to many places around the world. He was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars and possessed a profound loyalty and respect for military service, its mission, its members and his country. Ernie retired from the Air Force in March of 1981 at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, and then worked for Boeing in Wichita for 10 years. Ernie and Patsy retired to Clinton, Arkansas, where he served as a member of the Van Buren County Quorum Court for several years.

He is survived by his four children, Debra Fason (Dan), of Kempner, Texas; Anthony Atkins, Teresa Shaad, and Patrick Atkins (Lauri), all of Wichita, Kansas; five grandchildren, Chris Fason (Ammy), Julia Cope, Jacob Atkins (Renae), Jason Shaad (Trilce) and Jon Shaad; six great-grandchildren, Hanna, Eli, Abigail, Jordan, Whitney, and Hayley; and two sisters, Addie Ozell Detz of Seal Beach, California, and Iva Mae Catlett of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Visitation will be 1:00 Saturday afternoon, December 10th, at the Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Bismarck, Arkansas, the funeral service beginning at 2:00 with Brother Chris Morrison officiating. Interment with full military honors by the Little Rock Air Force Base Honor Guard will follow in the Hickory Grove Cemetery under the direction of J. A. Funk Funeral Home of Malvern.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.