Obituary provided by Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home

William Henry Elkinton, Jr., age 78, of Maryville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at his home.

He was born October 21, 1931 in Osawatomie, Kansas, the second of five children born to William Henry Elkinton and Bessie Mae (Spellman) Elkinton. He enjoyed small town life as a boy and entertained his grandchildren with stories of his cousins and their many misadventures. He graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1949. He attended Colorado Springs Bible College where he met Margaret Alma Termaine. They were married April 8, 1955 and had five children.

He received a bachelor's degree from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas and a master's degree from University of Alaska in Anchorage. A life-long learner, his major areas of study included theology, philosophy, history, education, and administration. He was a prolific reader, and enjoyed challenging others to learn new things. He did his best to instill that passion in both his children and his students, often asking them to tell him what new things they had learned during the day. Above all, his desire was to point others to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Mr. Elkinton held many jobs throughout his life. He served briefly in the National Guard and was proud to have worked on the Missouri-Pacific Railroad. During his 30+ years in education, he taught in public and private school in California, Kansas, North Carolina, and Alaska. While in Anchorage, Alaska, he acted as Wing Chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He pastored in Alaska and Kansas, facilitated bible training sessions and taught Sunday School for many years. He opened and operated a Christian book store in Thomasville, NC as well as a flag business in the Kansas City, Kansas area. He was president of the North Carolina Christian Schools Association and was a concerned participant in local politics. Throughout his life, he had many unique experiences. A highlight was the discovery of a signet ring from the time of Daniel uncovered during an archaeological dig in the Holy Land.

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Bessie Elkinton, his sister Elaine Page, his brother Edd Elkinton; his son William H. "Hank" Elkinton, III and his daughter Camilla Joy Elkinton.

Mr. Elkinton was a devoted husband and father who is survived by his wife Margaret Elkinton of the home; daughters Jan Cummins of Juneau, Alaska, Kay Austin of Greenback, Tennessee, and Pamela Verebasaga of Juneau, Alaska; eleven grandchildren; and two sisters Jean Brown of Sterling, Alaska and Juanita Otero of Bend, Oregon.

A service to commemorate his life will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at the Wesleyan Church, 204 Fourth Street, Osawatomie, Kansas under the direction of the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Osawatomie Cemetery followed by a potluck dinner and time of fellowship at the church. Memorials may be made to the Elkinton Scholarship Fund at Hobe Sound Bible College, P. O. Box 1065, Hobe Sound, FL 33475.