Thomas Fowler Akin, 88, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at Mitchell Hollingsworth Summit Rehab, Florence, Alabama, following a long illness. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee.
Fowler was a native of Nashville, Tennessee.
He is survived by his wife, Vera DePriest Akin, and sons Ken, Brentwood, Tennessee, and Brent (Mona), Collierville, Tennessee.
Grandchildren are Ashley (Mathew) Lester, Memphis, Tennessee, Wesley, Athens, Alabama, Jordan (Jessica), Birmingham, Alabama, Cullen, Providence, Rhode Island, Spencer (Heather), Memphis, Tennessee, Evan, Washington, D.C., and Chance (Valerie), Chicago, Illinois.
Great-grandchildren are Silas, Ella, Peyton, Lucy, and Riley.
He is also survived by his sister, Katherine Moss, Mt. Dora, Florida.
Fowler was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Fowler and Rosa Mai Locke Akin.
He was a member of the 168th Battalion, Tennessee National Guard, Dickson, Tennessee. He was on active duty during the Korean War conflict. He obtained the rank of first lieutenant.
He worked for Amoco Oil Company as a territory manager in Mobile, Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, and Dallas, Texas.
In 1962, he and Vera and their two sons, Ken and Brent, moved to Florence, Alabama where he owned and operated Akin Oil Company, Inc. for 20 years.
He and his family are members of Wood Avenue Church of Christ.
He was an avid University of Tennessee football fan (also an Alabama fan when not playing Tennessee), served as president of the Bradshaw High School Athletic Booster Club, vice president and board member of the Bradshaw Band Club, and served on the Board of Directors of the University of North Alabama Sportsmen’s Club.
He served with the Oil Men’s Association Advisory Board, member of the American Oil Jobber’s Association, and Advisory Board for The National Petroleum News.
He also was employed for 15 years as license inspector for Lauderdale County.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to your favorite charity or to Wood Avenue Church of Christ, Florence, Alabama.
Pallbearers will be Jordan Akin, Cullen Akin, Spencer Akin, Evan Akin, Chance Akin, and Mathew Lester.
Honorary pallbears will be Mike Clemons, Gene Robb, Jerry Crowell, Peggy Wallace, David Moss, Eddie Kreiger, Tim Lehning, and Robert Thornhill.
There will be no visitation.
Spry-Williams Funeral Home of Florence is in charge of arrangements.
