Captain Robert Lawton Akin had a great love of aviation which he exemplified throughout his life. At an early age he followed a path of flight that eventually led him to Piedmont Airlines in 1965 where he began his career as a flight engineer on the Boeing 727. During his profession he flew the Martin 404, Fairchild 227, YS-11, Boeing 737, 757, and 767. He was a well respected instructor on the YS-11 and the Boeing 757/767. After retiring from Piedmont/USAirways in 1992, Bob became the first NSLI at Delta Airlines where he instructed on the Boeing 757/767 for 10 years, retiring from Delta Global in 2005. He enjoyed the solitude of soaring and fly-fishing and was always a dedicated professional and airman.

Babetta (Babs) married Bob in 1983 and shared their love of the aviation industry. She was a flight attendant for Piedmont/USAirways and British Airways (Wet Lease), retiring in 2004 after a career of 36 years, which included several years of union leadership, numerous special projects within the scope of Dining and Cabin, and development of transatlantic service procedures for the Boeing 767 and the Airbus 330 for Piedmont/USAirways.

Bob and Babs Akin was a couple devoted not only to the aviation industry but to each other as well.