Funeral service for SSG (Retired) Hiram C. "Buddy" Akers will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 18, 2019, in  Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. William F. Watkins, Pastor, Locust Grove Baptist Church officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow in Highland Cemetery

The family will greet friends Wednesday from 6-8 pm at the funeral home.

SSG (Retired) Hiram C. "Buddy" Akers died Saturday, April 13, 2019 in Lawton at the age of 75.  He was born June 26, 1943 in Raleigh County, West Virginia to Coy Vincent and Elsie Lee Akers.  He grew up in West Virginia and enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17.  He married Ruth Ford on August 14, 1968 in Christiansburg, Virginia.

He retired from the Army at Fort Sill in 1994.  His awards include the National Defense Service Medal 2 ^nd award, Army Service Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal 5 ^th award, NCO Professional Development Ribbon 2 ^nd award, Overseas Service Ribbon with number three, Good Conduct Medal with number 5, Army Commendation Medal 2 ^nd award, SW Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, Drivers Badge (Wheeled) and the Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal.  Following his retirement he began a second career with Civil Service at Fort Sill.

He was a member of Locust Grove Baptist Church.  He enjoyed fishing.

He is survived by his wife, of the home; three daughters, Valerie Akers, Tammy Roman and husband Ricardo and April Sterling and husband David; a son, Vincent Akers and wife Wendy; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; ten siblings, Vincent, Jack, Maurnita, Sue, Jean, Freddie, Bobbie, Bo, Dean and Donna; and numerous nieces and nephews.

His parents, two sons, Ronald Akers and Michael William Akers, and a sister, Rita, preceded him in death.