Joseph Elkins Jr.

Mr. Joseph Edward Elkins Jr., 83, a well known retired jeweler of Frederick, who resided at Buckingham's Choice, Adamstown, died on Wednesday morning, Dec. 7, 2005 at the Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. He was the husband of Anne McGuire Elkins. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 17, 2005.

Born in Frederick, Jan. 18, 1922, Mr. Elkins was a son of the late Joseph Edward Sr., and Rebecca Staley Elkins. After graduating from Saint John's Literary Institution, Frederick, he served with the United States Army Air Corps as a radio operator on a B-24, flying over 55 missions from England and Italy over Europe during World War II. Following his service during World War II, he joined his father in their family jewelry business, of which he became sole owner in 1963. He was past president of the Washington Guild of the American Gem Society and had served on the board of directors of the Fredericktown Savings Bank.

Mr. Elkins was a member of the Rotary Club of Frederick, where he had been honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a member and past president of the Frederick Cotillion Club; a member of the Catoctin Club; and was a life member of the John R. Webb, Post 3285, VFW and the Francis Scott Key Post 11, American Legion, of Frederick.

Mr. Elkins was also a noted musician and had played keyboard for many years at the Rotary Club meetings, various dances and events, and for many years, he performed with the Dick Harp Band.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, John Huntington Elkins and wife, Kathy of Stowe, Vt., and Jeffrey Thomas Elkins, of Frederick; two sisters, Rebecca Bowers of Frederick and Sister Mary Rebecca of Baltimore; and two grandchildren, Kileen Elkins Burgoyne and husband Richard of Boltonwood, Mass., and Dayna Lindsey of Charlotte, N. C. Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. A memorial Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, Dec. 12, at 10 a.m., from Saint John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, by the Rev. Lawrence K. Frazier, pastor of Saint Joseph's on Carrollton Manor Catholic Church, Buckeystown, Md. Interment will be in Saint John's Cemetery, Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Rotary Club of Frederick Endowment Fund, in care of the Community Foundation of Frederick County, 312 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701.