Robert L. Akens

Robert L. Akens, 87, of Zanesville, died at 9:13 P.M. on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at Genesis Hospital.  He was born January 06, 1936 in Eccles, WV a son of the late Elbert L. and Gladys (Lambert) Akens. His family moved to Big Stone Gap, VA where he grew up. Robert Served Honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He returned home to Virginia and attended college at the Wise County Branch of the University of VA. He moved to Ohio and attended the Ohio State University receiving license as a Professional Engineer.  During this time he met and married the love of his life, Valeria (Mitchell) Akens, they recently celebrated 62 years of marriage. They have two sons, Konrad and Bryan, one granddaughter, Alysa and a great-granddaughter, Jasmine.

He enjoyed lunches on Thursdays with the “Old Fossils” lunch friends, planting big gardens each summer and sharing the vegetables, mowing, all outside work, reading, Sudoku, listening to Bluegrass and Gospel music, and playing his mandolin.  He is listed in Marquis Who’s Who and holder of four Patents. He was a member of ASME and NSPE, he worked at Westinghouse (Columbus), moved to Zanesville in 1965 and worked at NCR and worked for Dura Corp, he started Akens Engineering which he had for thirty-six years.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by three sisters; Shirley, Patricia, and Kathryn; several cousins, he is the last in his generation.

A loving cremation will be performed under the direction of BOLIN-DIERKES FUNERAL HOME, 1271 BLUE AVENUE, ZANESVILLE.

No services will be held at this time, a private family gathering will be held at a later date.

To send a note of condolence: visit www.bolin-dierkesfuneralhome.com, follow us on Facebook, or call our professional staff at (740)452-4551.