George Wiley Atkinson

George Wiley Atkinson, 85, of Klamath Falls, Ore., (formerly of Springfield and Dexter, Ore.) passed away on June 7, 2008, at his home following several years battling with emphysema.
George was born on June 2, 1923, to Fred and Hazel Atkinson in Corona, N.M. His siblings include his sister Martha Dryden of Dallas, Texas, and two brothers Fred Jr. of Tucumcari, N.M. – deceased, and Jim Bob Atkinson of Eunice, N.M. - deceased.
George was born and raised in New Mexico. After working on the family dairy, he left home at the age of 16 and worked as a cook for back-country hunting parties in the mountains of New Mexico. He completed high school while working various jobs and then enrolled at the University of New Mexico to study aeronautical engineering. This course of study was cut short due to both financial challenges and World War II.
George enlisted in the U.S. Army as an air cadet and completed basic pilot training just as the war ended. He was honorably discharged from the Army and became a radio operator for Trans World Airlines, working the transatlantic route.
He studied aircraft maintenance and became a licensed aircraft mechanic and private pilot instructor. As a pilot instructor, he met and married Virginia Jane Hartman, a student of his, while living in Stockton, Calif.
George again enlisted in the U.S. Army and was later commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. This led to a distinguished 26-year career in the military, first with the U.S. Army Air Corps and later with the U.S. Air Force. While serving in the U.S. Air Force, George was a test pilot, a flight accident investigator, and a B-52 command pilot for the Strategic Air Command during the Cuban missile crisis, served in Vietnam, including support of special operations teams, worked on special operations programs such as the SR-71 spy plane (reconnaissance) programs, received U.S. Air Force certification as an aeronautical engineer (as a result of significant independent and university study) and received eight medals (some multiple times) and numerous commendations.
George retired form the U.S. Air Force in 1969 and moved to Dexter, Ore., with his family including his wife Virginia and their two children Janie and Dale. While in Dexter, he worked part-time as a charter pilot. He then started working for Southern Pacific Railroad, where he advanced to the position of yardmaster at the Eugene, Ore., switchyard.
George retired from Southern Pacific Railroad in 1985. After retiring, both George and Virginia volunteered at the Oregon Air Museum in Eugene, Ore.
Throughout his life, he was an avid reader who enjoyed learning new things. He was an accomplished horseman who competed in rodeos on his quarter horse Trixie. He loved animals and especially enjoyed his cat Wiger that regularly sparred with his wife's cat. He never complained and provided well for his immediate and extended family.
George is remembered as a hero to many of us. But more importantly, he is remembered as an honorable, hard-working man, who put his family and service to his country above his own needs. We miss you already George (Dad).
George is survived by his wife Virginia; two children Janie and her husband Rich Steinbock, Klamath Falls, Ore., Dale and his wife Sophia Atkinson, Richland, Wash.; and five grandchildren Karen Steinbock, San Diego, Calif., Mark Steinbock, captain, U.S. Army, Iraq, and Daniel, Kevin and David Atkinson, Richland, Wash.
George is remembered as an intelligent, hard-working man and a loving husband and father.
A memorial service is planned for Thursday, June 12, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Eternal Hills Memorial Gardens in Klamath Falls, Ore.
Donations can be made to Klamath Hospice in George's name.