Donald R. “Rick” Adkins passed away on April 7, 2026, at the age of 65.
Born in 1960, he was a lifelong resident of Wilmington, Delaware. At the heart of his life was the love he shared with his wife, Lisa. Together they built a beautiful life and raised two children, Christa and Michael.
An athlete from a young age, Rick carried his passion for sports throughout his life, becoming an avid cyclist and triathlete. He rode for many years with Dunbar’s Cyclery, where he found lifelong friends.
Rick worked as a manufacturing engineer, applying his expertise in quality control and taking pride in guiding and mentoring the teams he supported. He held leadership roles at Metal‑Tech, Rath‑Group, and Kingsbury, Inc., He also shared his expertise as an instructor at Delaware Technical Community College.
He was a devoted father who coached his children in track and field for many years at St. Mary Magdalen School and showed up to every lacrosse game and rowing regatta over the years. He was always busy building or fixing things around the house—if something was broken, Rick was the one everyone called. He had a gift for connecting with people and made friends wherever he went.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 10 years ago, he faced a long and difficult battle. Though the disease took much from him and caused constant pain, he remained active for as long as he could. Above all, Rick cherished his role as “Grampy.” He found his greatest joy in his grandchildren and in time spent with family, especially during summer beach trips.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, of 39 years; his daughter, Christa (Justin DiMedio) and their children, MJ and Lilly; his son, Michael; his mother, Patricia Greager (Jim); his father, Donald Adkins, Sr.; his sisters, Donna Maichle (John), Michele Fields (Ron), and Traci Winfree (Dave); his in-laws, Susan and Bill Dowdell; his sisters-in-law, Kristi Lucey and Traci Sisson (Dave); and his extended family, who loved him deeply.
He will be greatly missed and remembered for his strength, energy, and steady presence.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. A memorial service will begin at 2:00 pm. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Rick’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Parkinsons Foundation by visiting give.michaeljfox.org
Condolences
Thank You
Your online condolence will appear once approved by our site administrator.