Janice Adkins

JANICE MARIE ADKINS, 73, of Belvidere, passed away after a brief illness on July 24, 2012 at Swedish American Hospital with her family by her side. She was born Oct. 6, 1938 in Banner Elk, NC, to Claude and Bea Davis. Raised an ""army brat,"" she lived in many locations in the U.S., particularly Elk Park, NC. She married her loving husband of 56 years, Phil Adkins, on June 10, 1956 in Fort Lewis, Wash. They lived in California, then settled in the BelvidereRockford area where they raised two children, Shon and Kathy. Valuing education, she took courses at Rock Valley College and worked in public relations/education for many years. Her family was the center of her life, and over the years her home served as the hub of activity for children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. They knew her as a positive, kind, caring, generous person who showed unconditional love for all. Also an adventurer, she loved to travel with Phil and other family members to places such as Alaska, Hawaii, California, Arizona, Las Vegas, Panama Canal, Caribbean Islands, Bora Bora, Tahiti, England, France, and Mexico. She flew in a bush plane in Alaska, rode in a hot air balloon in Lake Tahoe, took a flying lesson at age 70, and planned to parasail in California next year. Jan will be like a butterfly that continues to travel. Family who will dearly miss her include her husband, Phil Adkins, of Belvidere; son, Shon Adkins, of Rockford; daughter, Kathy Adkins of Rockford; grandchildren Eric, Brittany, and Anthony; greatgranddaughter Audrina; brothers, Harold Davis and Philip Davis; sisters, Margaret Alexander, and Patti Davis; daughterinlaw, Mary Ann Engelhart and many fantastic nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Starlight Theatre Pavilion at Rock Valley College on Friday, July 27 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Starlight Theatre, Rockford, Ill.