Funeral service for Dr. John C. Elkins, 88, Lawton will be at 10:00 am Friday at Lawton Heights United Methodist Church, with Rev. Michelle D. McCarty, Pastor officiating. Dr. Elkins died Wednesday in Lawton. Burial with Military Honors will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, under direction of Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service. John C. Elkins was born in Junction City (Cotton County), OK, November 15, 1923, to George P. and Mary Elizabeth Elkins. He graduated from Geronimo High School in 1942 and immediately joined the Army Air Corps with his cousin (and good friend) Malcolm Williams. For the next three years he served as a Staff Sergeant in the Pacific Theater and fought in Australia, Fiji, the Philippines, Morotai, New Caledonia, New Guinea, and Samoa. On September 1, 1946, upon returning from World War II, he married Erma Louise Dean and they happily remained so for over 55 years. She passed away May 5, 2002. He attended college at Cameron Jr. College, Central State College, and the University of Oklahoma. He received an Associate's Degree from Cameron in 1948, a Bachelor's Degree from Central State College (now UCO) in 1949, and Master's and Doctoral Degrees from the University of Oklahoma in 1953 and 1966, respectively. Dr. Elkins highly valued education and devoted much of his life to helping others succeed. He started his teaching career at Geronimo High School from 1949-1953. He also coached sports and served as principal of the high school. He then joined Lawton Public Schools in 1953 as a sixth grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School. In 1954 he became the first principal at Jefferson Elementary School. Later he joined the administrative staff at LPS and served as Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Superintendent from 1977-1985. In 1985, after 32 years with the Lawton Public School system, he officially retired. However, he continued on his path in education by turning his gift for storytelling into three published children's novels. The "Ginger's Star" series followed the adventures of a young boy and his horses, and Dr. Elkins loved reading them to classrooms full of schoolchildren whenever he could. He also enjoyed traveling, growing his own food, and playing guitar and fiddle. He is survived by one son - John K. Elkins and wife, Cindy (Lawton), one daughter - Susan D. Crumbley and husband, Mike (Lawton), Four grandchildren: John W. Elkins (Los Angeles, CA); Leah Lewis and husband, Jay (Lawton); Keith A. Elkins and wife, Aichia (Tucson, AZ); Lance Crumbley and wife, Jaimie (Lawton), Three great grandchildren: Jaylen Lewis, Baleigh Crumbley, and Jayda Lewis, One brother, Gene Elkins and wife Otha (Lawton) Dr Elkins was preceded in death by: His wife, Erma (Dean) Elkins, His parents, George P. and Mary Elizabeth Elkins His brothers, Cleo, Clyde, and Elmer Elkins, Sisters Gladys Noel, Inez Brown, Joan Burns Memorial Contributions may be made to: Lawton Food for Kids; PO Box 1522; Lawton, OK 73502, LPS Foundation; PO Box 2323; Lawton, OK 73502 or to Lawton Heights United Methodist Church; 1514 NW Andrews; Lawton, OK 73507 *** The family will greet friends Thursday evening at the funeral home from 5pm until 7pm ***