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Paula Ruth Kirby Adkins age 76 of Clinton, formerly of Storm Lake, passed away Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf. According to her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Eureka Springs, Ark., at 2 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2014. Pape Funeral Home of Clinton is assisting the family. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church in Eureka Springs, Ark., or Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.
Paula was born on Nov. 27, 1937 in Wichita, Kan., the daughter of G. Paul and Edna Mae (Bennett) Kirby, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Judith Ann “Judy” Schardein, this past spring.
Paula is survived by her three children: Charles and his wife Sara Adkins-Blanch of Arlington, Va., Marcia and her husband Ron Heeren of Clinton and Scott and his wife Erin Courtney of Brooklyn, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Tasha, Kirsten, Megan, Charlie and Theo.
In 1955 Paula graduated from El Dorado High School, going on to attend Grinnell College and then marrying Carl A. Adkins in 1960. After a decade as a devoted stay-at-home-mother, she embarked on an award-winning career as a real estate broker and owner of P. Adkins Real Estate in Storm Lake. Throughout her life in Storm Lake she was politically active with a run for mayor in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s Paula became a top selling realtor in Northwest Iowa. In 1990 Paula sold her real estate business to start a bed and breakfast in Eureka Springs, Ark. 5 Ojo Inn became a popular lodging destination for many tourists visiting Eureka. Over the years Paula expanded 5 Ojo from five rooms to 10 luxury rooms and was known for serving a four course gourmet breakfast and her sensibility for Victorian style. In Eureka Springs she continued to be politically active and was active in all aspects of the town. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Eureka Springs, P.E.O. Chapter A of Holiday Island, Rotary Club, Eureka Springs Committee of Eureka, the Eureka Springs Preservation Society, a member of Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, and volunteered for organizations such as Eureka Christian Health Outreach.
Paula loved to live by spending her time playing flute in the Bella Vista Community Concert Band, gardening, traveling the world, and most of all making good hearty laughs with her friends and family.
The family will a host party to celebrate Paula’s life at Holiday Island Elks Club at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2014. Hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a main dish will be served. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish if they would like.
