BRENDA MARIE ELKINS 43, of Bell Buckle, died Sunday at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Gowen-Smith Chapel with Randall Harmon officiating. Burial will follow at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Contributed by Jody & Lesa Baltz at Find-A-Grave

JAMES WHITE ELKINS 84, of Bell Buckle died Monday. (4 May 2009) Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bell Buckle United Methodist Church, where he was a member, followed by a graveside service will follow at Hazel Cemetery. Officiants will be the Revs. Elizabeth 'Beth' Ezell, Lawrence E. 'Buddy' Royston, and John V. 'Jack' Carney. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the church. A native and lifelong resident of Bell Buckle, he was the son of the late Robert Lee Elkins and Lucy Pruitt Elkins. He attended Bell Buckle Elementary School and graduated from Bell Buckle High School in 1943; was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, in which he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was injured while repairing the Ludendorff Bridge in Remagen, Germany, and was awarded the Purple Heart, an ETO Ribbon with three battle stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation; operated Elkins Garage from 1948-73; was Bell Buckle fire chief from 1950-92; was an active Mason and member of the Al Menah Shrine Temple. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Powell Elkins, and a son, Robert "Bobby" Elkins. (Contributed by Martha Mendez)

Second Obituary from John Flack at Find-A-Grave
James White Elkins was born on January 19, 1925 to Robert Lee Elkins and Lucy Pruitt Elkins in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. He has been a life long resident of Bell Buckle and member of the Bell Buckle United Methodist Church. He attended Bell Buckle Elementary School and graduated from Bell Buckle High School in 1943. James entered the U.S. Army in October of 1943 and was assigned to the 276th Combat Engineers Battalion. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and helped push Hitler's army out of Belgium and back to the Rhine River. On March 17, 1945, James was injured while repairing the Ludendorff Bridge in Remagen, Germany. The bridge collapsed after repeated attempts by the German troops to destroy it. James was awarded numerous medals and awards, including the Purple Heart, an ETO Ribbon with three battle stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation. When James returned to Bell Buckle in 1946, he reunited with his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Powell, and they were married on August 29, 1946. In 1948, James opened the Elkins Garage, which he operated for 25 years. In 1950, he became Bell Buckle's first Fire Chief, a position he held until 1992. James continued to support the Bell Buckle Fire Department after his retirement, and the new fire hall was named for, and dedicated to, him on October 8, 2006. James was an active Mason and member of the Al Menah Shrine Temple. He was proud of the work he participated in as a shriner. James is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Dorothy Powell Elkins, and son, Robert "Bobby" Elkins. He was a loving husband and father, a dear friend to many, and a brave veteran. James truly touched many lives and will be missed and remembered by many. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 6, 2009, 5:00-9:00 PM, at Bell Buckle United Methodist Church. The funeral service will be Thursday, May 7, 2009, at 11:00 AM at Bell Buckle United Methodist Church, and a graveside service will follow at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle, TN. Officiants will be the Reverends Elizabeth "Beth" Ezell, Lawrence E. "Buddy" Royston, and John V. "Jack" Carney. Pallbearers are Bob Beachboard, Jackie Crosslin, Jack Curtis, Clarence Elkins, Ernie Fishlock, Fayne Haynes, John Jarman, Ronnie Lokey, Herby Powell, and David Robinson. Honorary Pallbearers are The Bell Buckle Fire Department, Richard Cobb, Charles Cooke, Buck Davis, Mitchell Elkins, Steve Elkins, Corey Hartbarger, Howard Haynes, Casey Jones, Lyle Mason, David Mingle, James Mingle, Kenny Phillips, Mike Powell, Andy Ratleph, Cliff Rider, Joe Sheetz, Joe "Little Joe" Sheetz, Jr., Dennis Webb, Marvin Whitaker, and Paul Whitaker. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bell Buckle United Methodist Church or the Bell Buckle Fire Department.