Sally June Kirk Adkins
ADKINS
Sally June Kirk Adkins, 84, a resident of the Woodlands Retirement Community in Huntington, passed away on Feb. 28, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital–the same hospital where she was born on Sept. 1, 1941, to the late Reva Ann Hamilton Kirk and Harry Lee Kirk Jr. She had one older brother, the late David Kirk. As a child, she lived in the East End/Highlawn area of Huntington and attended both Emmons and Enslow/Highlawn Elementary, Enslow Junior High School, and Huntington East High School (Class of 1959).
When she changed schools from Emmons to Highlawn in the sixth grade, her mother became the leader of the Camp Fire Girls group to help Sally make new friends. This began the lifelong friendship of the 12 “Tanda Teens,” whose special bond of love and support for each other lasted over 60 years.
Sally met her husband, Fred Adkins, in high school. They fell in love and were married on Aug. 5, 1961. Fred completed law school in Morgantown and entered the military as a JAG officer. His military commitment took them to Charlottesville, El Paso, and Germany before settling down in Huntington with three kids in tow.
While living in Germany, Sally and Fred loved travelling around Europe and made cherished lifelong friendships.
Education was a passion to Sally–her own and teaching others. She completed her BS in elementary education at West Virginia University in 1965 and her MA in childhood education at Marshall University in 1975. Early in her career, she worked as a preschool teacher, a kindergarten teacher, a resource teacher for hearing-impaired children, and an elementary school teacher, who was beloved by her students.
Her life shifted to support her children’s many activities while they were young, and as they became more independent, she began her exceptional career serving the community. It started with volunteering in the local adult literacy tutoring program, led her to take post master’s courses in adult education, and culminated in becoming chair of the West Virginia State Reading Council Literacy Committee. Sally’s service in the Huntington community saw her serve as a board member, officer, or volunteer for Contact of Huntington, Tri-River Council Camp Fire Girls, Tri-State Literacy Council, Y-Huntington Swim Club, Cabell County Bar Auxiliary, Developmental Therapy Center, Veterans Memorial Field House Authority, West Virginia State Reading Council, Appalachian Regional Commission Workforce Literacy Project, Junior League, and Huntington East Highlander Booster Club.
Sally loved spending free time in the mountains in Randolph County, West Virginia, and she and Fred built a “getaway” cabin near Mingo Flats in 1983, lovingly known as “The Briars,” where she spent many joyous times with family and friends. She and Fred built a custom log estate home in 2005 on a neighboring 216-acre property called Fairview Farm. The Mingo community became their home after they sold their house in Huntington and lived at Fairview Farm for nearly 20 years. During these retirement years, they enjoyed skiing and golf at the nearby Snowshoe Resort, hiking in the mountains, raising cattle, watching birds and wildlife, and entertaining family and friends, which always included relaxing on the back porch while taking in the incredible views.
Sally immediately joined the Mingo area community by rallying for a new playground at Valley Head Elementary School, volunteering at the local library, serving as a vestry at the local church, and serving on boards of the Valley Health System and Snowshoe Foundation. They returned to Huntington in 2025 to the Woodlands Retirement Community.
Sally was a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She loved her children and grandchildren with all her heart. She was genuinely interested in people’s lives and had a great gift for listening, lifting spirits, and inspiring others.
Sally is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Fred Adkins; her three children, Allison Camara (Ken), Kirk Adkins (Susan), and Ann Enthoven (Nick); her nine grandchildren–who knew her as Nana–Katherine, Isabel (Julien), and Lindsey Camara; Dylan and River Adkins; Meg, Luke, Sydney and Reece Enthoven.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, with Rev. Annette Carper officiating. The family will receive friends beforehand from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Tri-State Literacy Council through the Cabell County Public Library website. Checks can be made out to the Tri-State Literacy Council and mailed to the Cabell County Public Library, 455 9th Street, Huntington, WV 25701.
Please leave an online condolence for Sally’s family at www.beardmortuary.com.