Dennis Kent Elkin

Dennis Kent Elkins, age 80, of Zanesville , Ohio died Tuesday, July 14, 2015 , at Majora Lane Care Center in Millersburg , Ohio . He was born June 30, 1935 , in Santa Rosa , Texas the son of Marshall and Genevieve (Smith) Elkins.

Kent graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1953 and Pan-American College in 1957 after which he moved to Elkhart , Kansas , to teach in the Elkhart school system and begin farming. He married Karen Joyce McClung in Elkhart , Kansas on August 29, 1958 .

After teaching English and Math for 25 years for the Elkhart schools, Kent devoted his time to farming and traveling with Karen until he retired from farming. After Karen’s death in 2002, Kent married Mildred Fisher Combs of Zanesville, Ohio, on September 30, 2004 . After dividing their time between Zanesville , Elkhart , and Harlingen , Texas , Kent and Millie made their home in Ohio .

Survivors include his wife, Millie Combs Elkins; his children, Dennis Elkins of Durango, Colorado, Renee’ Fisher and husband Gary of Wichita, Kansas and Carla Elkins of Wichita, Kansas; his brother, Don “Bruce” Elkins and wife Rosa of Poteet, Texas; Millie’s sons, Jerry Combs and wife Sandy of Zanesville, Ohio, Denny Combs and wife Carla of Columbus, Ohio, and their families; and a host of relatives and friends.

Kent was preceded in death by his wife, Karen; his brother, Neil Elkins; and a grandson, Robert Isaac Elkins (son of Dennis Elkins and Robyn Proffit).

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 20, 2015 at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Elkhart , Kansas with Reverend Terrell Giddens and Reverend Ronald Crosley officiating. Interment will follow at Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart . Friends may call from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Sunday, July 19, 2015 at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart . Memorial contributions may be given to Manhattan Christian College or missionaries, Katy and Randy Smelser of Peine, Germany in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.