When William Earl Adkins was born on 3 January 1899, in Iredell, North Carolina, United States, his father, Robert Lee Adkins, was 34 and his mother, Sarah Lou Dora Long, was 24. He married Jettie Mae Shoemaker on 21 October 1924, in Iredell, North Carolina, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. He lived in Chambersburg Township, Iredell, North Carolina, United States for about 10 years and National City, San Diego, California, United States in 1940. He died on 30 August 1989, in San Diego, San Diego, California, United States, at the age of 90.