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Obituary for J.D. Akard
1930 - 2010

J.D. Akard, 80, of Coffeyville, KS, died Sunday, September 5, 2010 at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, KS.

J.D. was born February 23, 1930 in rural Delta County Texas to Robert Akard and Eva (Maynard) Akard. He grew up in the Texas panhandle community of Memphis, where he excelled in sports. J.D. served one enlistment in the U.S. Navy after high school and became well-known for his athletic skills, serving on the Navy’s boxing team. After his military service, he arrived in Coffeyville, Kansas in 1949 to play football for Coffeyville Junior College. J.D. was a Junior College All-American as an offensive tackle and played on Red Ravens Championship teams. It was also in 1949 that he met his future wife, Peggy Benefiel of Coffeyville. After graduating mid year 1951 from CJC, J.D. became manager and later owner of Bynum’s Men’s Wear in Coffeyville and Tulsa. His career at Bynum’s lasted 47 years and ended upon his retirement and closing of the Coffeyville store in 1998.

J.D. and Peggy were married on April 5, 1953 at the First Baptist Church in Coffeyville.

Football was his life-long passion and for 40 years he enjoyed ‘Nado and Red Raven games with family and friends. He was a life-long supporter of the Ravens and among the ten-member, inaugural Lettermen’s Hall of Fame inductees in 1998. J.D. was the strong, silent type and well-known in his early business career for his ever present trademark cigar, later replaced by a healthier addiction to jogging and exercise. He coached youth football, baseball and softball and was active in numerous community organizations, serving as President of the Jaycee’s, the Bulls & Bears Investment Club and the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce. He was also a former Deacon in the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Peggy of the home; two sons, Pat Akard and his wife, Lisa of Manhattan, Kansas and Tim Akard and his wife, Ann of Corpus Christi, Texas; one daughter, Erin Akard of Seattle, Washington; one brother, Charles Akard and his wife, Ellen of Lawton, Oklahoma; two sisters, Bobbie Vogt of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Joyce Byers and her husband, Oliver of Houston, Texas; four grandchildren, Megan Cusano of upstate New York, Andrew Akard of Manhattan, Kansas, Adam Akard of Corpus Christi and Allison Banks of Torio, Panama; and two great-grandchildren, Solomon and Skye Banks. He was preceded in death by his parents; by his brothers Aubrey, Eldon and John Akard; sisters Pauline Whitlock and Barbara Akard and his grand daughter Adriane Akard.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 11, 2010 at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel. Visitation will be Friday, 9am-8pm with the family receiving guests at the funeral home from 6 until 8 pm. The family suggests donations to CCC Foundation that can be left at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home & Crematory. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.penwellgabelcoffeyville.com.