Edsel Ralph Atkins, 80 , of Beaver, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2025 at Adena Regional Medical Center. He was born January 19, 1945 in Scioto County, a son of the late John William and Pauline (Tatman) Atkins. Ralph was a 1962 graduate of Stockdale High School, and was a lifetime member of the VFW in Beaver. He was a proud retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel having served during the Vietnam Era. Ralph later served his community as a school bus driver for Eastern Local Schools from 1986 to 2003, and enjoyed farming and caring for his horses.

He is survived by his wife, Mickey (Pelfrey) Atkins; one daughter, Christina (William) Logan; one step-son, Jeremy (Heather) Bevins; four grandchildren; two brothers, Michael (Carolyn) Atkins, Dennis (Kathy) Atkins; four sisters, Linda (Richard) Ralston, Pamela (Dwayne) Thompson, Sandra (Dan) Eichenlaub, Mary Ellen (Mark) Smith, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Charles Atkins; four sisters, Melissa Jordan, Wanda Brown, Sue Lewis, Phyllis Murray, and his father and mother-in-law, Archie and Myrtle Pelfrey.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Chillicothe VA Medical Center, c/o Voluntary Services, In Memory of Edsel Ralph Atkins, 17273 State Route 104, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2025 at Erwin-Dodson-Allen Funeral Home in Minford with Aaron Swango officiating. Burial will be at Stockdale Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, and one hour prior to the service on Sunday. Online condolences may be sent to www.edafh.com.