The wake for Deacon Ronald M. Adkins begins with vespers at 3 p.m. Jan. 9 in St. Gabriel Church, 9925 Johnnycake Road, Concord. Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of Davenport, Iowa, will preside and Deacon Robert Grgic will be the homilist. Visitation will continue until 8 p.m.
Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost will celebrate the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Jan. 10 in St. Gabriel Church. Father Fred Pausche, St. Gabriel pastor, will be the homilist.
Deacon Adkins, 70, died on Christmas Day. He is survived by his wife, Margaret (Gromesky), children and grandchildren.
Bishop Anthony Pilla ordained him to the permanent diaconate for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 13, 2000 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
After ordination, Deacon Adkins was assigned to serve at St. Gabriel Parish, where he ministered until his death. Deacon Adkins served as a United States Army Ranger and he was a mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office for 35 years.
Those who knew him said Deacon Adkins loved his family and his diaconal ministry, particularly pre-Cana and post-Cana marriage ministry, diaconal formation retreats and parish ministry. They said he will be missed greatly.
Interment will be at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman.