Evelyn Fahs Burkins

Evelyn Fahs Burkins

An accomplished teacher, top-selling insurance agent, award-winning equestrian and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Evelyn Burkins died Thursday, January 10 at Brookdale Senior Living in Akron. She was 99 years young.

Born Evelyn Mae Fahs on September 6, 1919 in York, PA, Evelyn was the youngest of three children of John (a teacher/principal and textbook salesman) and Lulia Fahs. Her brother and sister were the late Emmett Fahs and Hilda Weigle.

By her own admission, the young Evelyn was over-protected and doted on by her much-older siblings, who would fashion elaborate costumes for Evelyn (Little Miss Muffet, for example) as the star of their equally creative play sessions. Who would guess that the family's little darling would go on to become a driven student, skipping two grades to graduate from high school as Valedictorian (and the youngest in her class) at just 15.

Always believing that she alone was responsible for determining the course of her life, Evelyn's impressive work ethic and resolute independence continued to define her. Graduating at age 19 from what is now Millersville University, Evelyn taught both Latin and French at high schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland for many years after her marriage to Charles Burkins. The couple settled in Akron in 1955 where they raised two children. In 1970, she began a 30-year career with Lincoln National Life, qualifying each year for a whirl-wind international trip. Upon retiring, Evelyn became the oldest female agent in the company's history. A member of Akron Life Underwriters, she served as president from 1986-1987.

To Evelyn, however, her most important life role was being a devoted, supportive mother to her daughter, Char, and son, Ken, and, later, being the proud Nana of granddaughter, Emily, grandson, Trevor and great-daughters Kendall and Morgan Adams.

A lover of English horseback riding, Akron Symphony concerts, crossword puzzles, solitaire, Scrabble (she was the family champion), her Cocker Spaniel, Buffy, long walks and head-turning Sunday bonnets (preferably in peach and green), Evelyn rode competitively into her 80s, ran 3.2 miles in the Akron Marathon at age 87 (for which she was interviewed on TV), performed water aerobics well into her 90s and walked with her family across the Brooklyn Bridge at 92. She was a member (since 1955) and office volunteer for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, a docent at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens and also renowned as a consummate entertainer (especially famous for her peanut butter chocolate cakes).

Evelyn Burkins is survived by her son Kenneth Fahs Burkins and daughter-in-law Kim Bruns Burkins of Akron; granddaughter Emily E. Adams and her husband, Mark B. Adams, of Westlake, OH; grandson Trevor F. Burkins of Austin, TX; great-granddaughters Kendall and Morgan Adams; and step-grandson Christopher W. Bruns of Tremont, OH. Evelyn was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Charlyn Scroggins, son-in-law Dr. Timothy Scroggins of Spencer, OH and dear companion Richard Spiers of Akron.

Calling hours will be held from 5-8:00 PM on Thursday, January 17 at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd, Akron 44333. A funeral service will take place at 1:00 PM on Friday, January 18 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 50 N. Prospect St., Akron 44304, followed by interment at Rose Hill Burial Park, 3653 W. Market St., Akron 44333 and then a reception at the home of Ken and Kim Burkins, 287 Overwood Rd., Akron 44313. Gifts in remembrance of Evelyn can be made at www.stanhywet.org or mailed to Stan Hywet, 714 North Portage Path, Akron 44303. Evelyn's family wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to the exceptional caregivers at Brookdale-Montrose and Ohio Living Rockynol-Akron. To share a Memory, Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)