William Orlan Akin

Dr. William Orlan Akin of Abilene, Texas passed away on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 at home surrounded by loved ones. Due to the COVID-19 virus there will be no funeral service or visitation. A private family service will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements are being handled by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd.

Dr. Akin was born in Mountain View, Oklahoma on February 21, 1935 to William G. and Erna Akin.

He received a B.S. from Texas Tech University and his M.D. from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston.

Dr. Akin married Joan Roberts in 1959 in Plainview, Texas.

He did his Rotating Internship at UTMB Galveston, and his General Surgery Residency at Loma Linda University at Riverside County General Hospital in Riverside, California.

In 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis he was drafted out of his ENT-Head and Neck Surgery Residency at UTMB Galveston and was stationed as a Captain at the 1360th U.S.A.F. Hospital Orlando, Florida where he was Chief of Otolaryngology.

Dr. Akin started private practice in Abilene in 1967. He was the first modernly trained Otolaryngology-Head and Heck surgeon in the Big Country. He was a member of many organizations, which included: Diplomat American Board of Otolaryngology, Fellow American College of Surgeons, Fellow American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society (by invitation only), Fellow American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Southern Medical Association and the Taylor, Jones and Haskell Medical Society.

Dr. Akin held many appointments including: Clinical Associate, Department of Otolaryngology UTMB Galveston, Chief of Surgery Hendrick Medical Center, Consultant in Otology at West Texas Rehabilitation Center Abilene, Liaison Committee T.M.A.- Texas Bar Association, and Consultant in Otolaryngology U.S.A.F. Dyess AFB.

Dr. Akin was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, Texas and is survived by his wife of 62 years Joan, daughter, Cynthia Lynn Akin, son, William Gregory Akin of Abilene, sister Glenda Berryman of Birmingham, Alabama and sister-in-law Maxine Roberts of Austin, Texas.

Colleagues and good friends include Dr. Robert Lockhart, Dr. Austin King, Dr Bill Voelter, Dr. Daniel Vaughn, Dr. Joe Kethely, Dr. Arthur Hall, Dr. Johnny Bliznak, Dr. Randy Stockstill, Dr. Jimmy Walker, the late Dr. Donald Wehmeyer, Billy W. Boone, Gretchen and Jimmy (Slim) Herman, Melinda Langston, Pauline Bell, Sterling Robertson, LeRoy Bell, Bobbie Lee Wolfe, Jo Ann and Louie Bob Davis, Ruth Ann and the late Donald Malm, the late Doris Jay and numerous others he worked with for 54 years at Hendrick and Abilene Regional Medical Centers. The family wishes to thank Dr. Akin’s office staff for their help.

Memorial donations may be given to the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, West Texas Rehab Center Hospice, Rescue the Animals, the ASPCA, Ben Richey Boys Ranch, or to the donor’s favorite charity.