Delbert and Darlene Eakins
Psalm 121:8 — “The LORD will guard your going out”… with those words Delbert Eakins, 79, and his wife Geneva Darlene Eakins, 77, were ushered into Heaven’s glory on the afternoon of Thursday, May 9th, near their home at Le Grand.
Joint funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 14th, at the Ferguson Christian Bible Church with Pastor Darren Young officiating. They will be laid to rest in the Le Grand Friends Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Monday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.
Delbert was born on October 7th, 1939, in Bloomfield, one of four children born to Harold and Marie (Burroughs) Eakins. Geneva Darlene Price was born on June 29th, 1941, also in Bloomfield, the daughter of Donald and Mary Louise (Baker) Price. Both graduated from the Bloomfield High School.
In the little town of Belknap, IA, north of Bloomfield, the two connected at the local Saturday night roller rink. The young couple was united in marriage on November 7th, 1959, at the Methodist Church in Bloomfield. Annually, they made the trip to the roller rink reunion where many contemporaries had become couples.
Delbert was employed as a farmhand, ISU as a herd’s man and retired from Fisher Controls in Marshalltown. After retirement, he worked at the Gilman Co-Op, East Marshall Schools and the Embers in maintenance. He was a faithful member of the Ferguson Christian Bible Church and loved volunteering for Iowa River Hospice, the Laurel school playing Santa at YSS, the food pantry and donating blood. He enjoyed feeding birds, animals and woodworking. He was blessed to share like interests with Darlene of the love of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, square dancing, roller skating and their family. Darlene also was a faithful member of the church and was “grandma” to many in the Gilman community, enjoyed cake decorating and helping the judging process at the fair. She was employed at Renner’s Flowers, Gilman Hardware and MMSC.
Delbert and Darlene were blessed with two wonderful sons: Larry (Donna) Eakins, of Le Grand and Donnie (Sue) Eakins, of Kentwood, MI; grandchildren Mary and William, both of Kentwood and many nieces, nephews and friends. Delbert is also survived by his sister, Pauline Clubb, of Keosauqua and sister-in-law Peggy Eakins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gerald and sister Hazel.
Darlene is also survived by her brother Bobby Gene Price, of Bloomfield and sister-in-law Shirley Price.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Jerry.