Dennis Adkins, Sr., 80 of Charleston passed away on August 10, 2023.  Dennis was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 6, 1943, to Nolan and Thelma (Spurlock) Adkins.  At the age of two, his family moved to Huntington, West Virginia.  He attended Barboursville High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and track and graduated in 1961, before going on to Marshall University.

After leaving Marshall, he went to work for WSAZ TV.  In 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army.  He was assigned to the Armed Forces Radio and Television for the Southern Command Network in the Canal Zone, Panama.  During his service with Armed Forces Radio, he met the love of his life, Norma Vargas.  After being discharged from the Army in 1971, he was employed by WCHS TV, Charleston, he worked his way from sales manager to president and general manager.  During his tenure as general manager, he acquired property and built the current location of WCHS.  Dennis retired in 1998 but in November 2003, he came out of retirement and went back into broadcasting and moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, as general manager for KREX.  He returned to Charleston in 2007 and was appointed executive director of WVPBS by then Governor Manchin.  He ended his extensive career in broadcasting working for his long-time personal friend and broadcasting colleague, Robbie Thomas, as general manager at WOAY.  He retired from broadcasting in 2013.  In October 2016 he was inducted into the West Virginia Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

After his military service ended, Dennis and Norma married on December 5, 1970.  They built their life together in Charleston and had two children.  Dennis was an avid fan of the Herd, Mountaineers and Cincinnati Reds.  His hobbies included golfing, fishing, and NASCAR racing.  He thoroughly enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports and was so proud of them.

Anyone who knew Dennis knew he was always the life of the party with his quick wit and his ability to tell a joke and make people laugh.  He was a sensitive and compassionate man.  To know him was to love him.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Nolan and Thelma Adkins, and his brother, C. Lee Adkins.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Norma; son, Dennis Adkins, Jr. (Billie Jo) and daughter, Kelsey Adkins; grandchildren, Tristan, Casey, Rylan and Brooklyn; and numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws.

A service will be held at St. Timothy Lutheran church, Charleston, on Friday, August 18^th, 2023, at 11 a.m.  with Pastor Jamie Strickler officiating.  Service will be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page.  Burial will follow at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Cemetery, 130 Academy Drive, Dunbar.  Visitation will be at the church on Thursday, August 17^th, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made to St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 900 Lawndale Lane, Charleston, WV 25314.

Memories of Dennis may be shared by visiting www.snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary.   Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, is handling the arrangements.