DELHI - William E. Aikens, 86, of Delhi, passed away peacefully holding hands with his wife and granddaughters at O'Connor Hospital surrounded by his family on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018.

Bill was born March 8, 1932, in Hamden, a son of Burton and Catherine (Gladstone) Aikens and graduated from Delhi High School in 1950.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country from 1951 to 1954 as an Airman First Class. Bill began a long working career at an auto repair shop and gas station in the Syracuse area and later fulfilled his dream of operating his own dairy farm on Rich Road in Bloomville until selling the cows in 1978. Bill then began working for the Delaware County Sheriff's Department and eventually became the maintenance supervisor for Delaware County's buildings and grounds. He retired in 1994. He also co-owned the former Coach Lamp Inn until selling to his partner, John Laing.

He served as commander of the American Legion Post 190 in Delhi and enjoyed working his farm, hunting, and puttering around his workshop on heavy equipment and woodworking.

Survivors include his wife, Wanda (Johnson) Aikens, to whom he was married on Sept. 26, 1987; daughters, Janice Elwell (Ritchie Gabriel) of Andes, Julie (Michael) Langan of Schoharie, Anne Aikens (Martin Whitbeck) of Delhi; Wanda's children, Fred (Pam) Barkalow of Delhi, Terry (Fred) Peck of Delhi, Dennis Kinch of Delhi and Christy (Steve) Llewellyn of Oneonta; grandchildren, Jesse (Stacey) Elwell, Nathan (Megan) Langan, Josie (Sarah) Elwell, Hubba (Courtney) Langan, Lindsay (Alex) Whitbeck, Matthew, Lauren, Jessica, Jeffrey, Deanna, Joseph and Jamie; five great-grandchildren, Henry Wyatt, Henry George, Kaident, Adalyn and Landon, sister, Barbara Doyle of DeLancey; several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his siblings, Wilber, Burton "Bud" and Marion.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 5, at the Aikens family plot in Hamden Cemetery. A gathering will follow at the Legion Hall in Delhi.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Bill to the Hamden Cemetery Association, 176 Cemetery Road, Hamden, NY 13782, Att: Liz Bowie.

The Aikens family is being assisted by the Langan Funeral Home of Schoharie and Robert A. Guffin Funeral Home of Cobleskill.

Please visit www.langanfuneralhome.com to leave a special message for Bill's family.