Charles Adkins

Charles E. Adkins, 89, of Overland Park, KS, passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2022.  Born and raised in Georgia, Charles attended North Georgia College and was commissioned into the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation and remained in the  Army National Guard following active duty.

A dedicated safety and health professional, he devoted 59 years to the improvement of environmental health and working conditions at both the state and national level.  Ultimately serving as part of the Senior Executive Service in Washington, DC, his work in the US Department of Labor helped shape future policy as Chairman of the Industrial Hygienist Certification Board.

His career began with the Florida State Board of Health and led him to a role as an Industrial Hygienist at Kennedy Space Center.   He was recruited by OSHA to Kansas City as part of their national startup in 1971 and then on to Washington, DC in 1986 to serve as National Director of Health Standards and Field Operations.  As part of the Senior Executive Service his most cherished awards were the nomination by his peers to the elite National Roundtable of Industrial Hygienists and his listing in the top 10 Industrial Hygienists in America.  He returned to Kansas City where he served as Regional Administrator for a four state area until his retirement in 2015.     He enjoyed model trains and woodworking in his retirement years.

Mr. Adkins is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Jeffie Adkins of Kansas City, and his loving grandson, J.T. Adkins, of Kannapolis, NC.  Other survivors include a brother, Frank Adkins of Ooltewah, TN, a sister, Kathryn Eward of Indialantic Beach, FL, and numerous nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by a beloved son, Jeff Adkins, his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Lowry Adkins, Sr, and a brother, Lowry Adkins, Jr.