James A. Elkins

James Elkins, 87, of Richmond, Texas, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2025 in his home surrounded by loved ones.
James was born on January 13, 1938 in Rosenberg, Texas to Rilda and Paul Elkins. Since his father was a Geophysicist, they constantly moved to different cities throughout Texas and Louisiana. James rarely finished a grade level at the same school until his high school years in Georgetown, Texas. While living there, James adopted the nearby Texas Longhorns as his favorite team and remained a die-hard fan his entire life. He was overjoyed to see his grandson graduate from UT in 2019.
After graduating high school, James worked for Nalco Chemical Co. in Sugar Land, Texas. He retired from Nalco in September 1986, then went to work for Champion Chemical Co. in Fresno, Texas for 7 more years. James finally retired "for good" in 1993. Early in his employment, he was sent on assignment to Venezuela for several months on a research ship. In between the hours of hard work on this assignment, James learned to scuba dive, which inspired his later hobby of maintaining a saltwater fish aquarium.
While at Nalco, James and his work buddies would cross the street to Sugar Land National Bank to cash their paychecks. That's where he met Bonnie, who worked as a bookkeeper and bank teller, and the rest of the story is a life-long love affair that remained true to the end. They recently celebrated 64 years of marriage. They built a beautiful life filled with family, faith, and many trips to their beloved Matagorda cabin for fishing, porch swinging, and sunset viewing from the deck.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rilda and Paul Elkins and brother, Alan Elkins. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Elkins, daughters Vicki Elkins of Richmond, Texas, Janis Knuckols and husband, Will, of Richmond, Texas, grandchildren, James "Jay" Knuckols and wife, Hannah, of Austin, Texas, and Olivia Knuckols of Houston, Texas. He is also survived by his brother, Wayne Elkins and wife, Jeanne, of Temple, Texas, and his sister, Nica Cason, of Wiggins, Mississippi along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends whom he cherished.
James loved hunting and fishing, but nothing compared to the devotion he had to being involved in the lives of his grandchildren. The highlights of his retirement years were watching them grow up and spending countless hours watching baseball games, dance recitals, and theatre performances. "World's Greatest Grandpa" is an understatement. James's good natured, optimistic outlook on life and love for his family will remain in the memories and hearts of all who knew and loved him.
The family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to James's longtime caregiver, Ramona Lamas, as well as Highland Hospice Organization, specifically, crisis care nurses Carolyn Gipson and Yvonne Chiani.