LARRY ATKINSON

ATKINSON LARRY R. ATKINSON Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army, retired A career infantry officer who served more than thirty years in the Army, from World War II through the Vietnam War and beyond, Colonel Atkinson died on October 26, 2018, after suffering a stroke and a fall at his home in Boiling Springs, PA. He was 94. He was born on August 9, 1924, in Canajoharie, NY, to the late Lawrence Rush and Isabelle Vail Atkinson. After graduating from high school in Moorestown, NJ, he enlisted in the Army in 1943, and eventually served as a troop commander in the 6th Cavalry Squadron, part of the United States Constab- ulary created as a security force in occupied Germany. After returning from overseas in 1946, he attended Pennsylvania State University, where he played varsity lacrosse. In 1951 he rejoined the Army as an infantry officer, and soon served as a company commander with the 350th Infantry Regiment in occupied Salzburg, Austria. His subsequent duty assignments took him to Georgia, Idaho, Korea, California, Hawaii, Virginia (twice), Vietnam, and Kansas (twice). His last active duty posting was on the faculty of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Colonel Atkinson was married for 52 years to the former Margaret Jean Howe of Prospect Park, PA, who died in 2003. In 2009, he married Roseanne DiStefano Bradshaw. Other survivors include three children: Lawrence Rush "Rick" Atkinson IV (Jane), of Washington, D.C.; Barbara Lynn Boyer (Carey) of Duncannon, PA; and Robert Howe Atkinson (Anne) of Lenexa, KS. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Lawrence Rush Atkinson V, Jessica Yost, Sarah Jane Atkinson, Megan Miller, Jennifer Walton, Jaycie Green, and Caroline Atkinson, as well as by three great-grandchildren, Anthony Harsh, Judah Green, and Shelby Yost. A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday, November 17 at 11 a.m. at the U.S. Army War College Chapel in Carlisle, PA. In Larry's memory, contributions may be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-6998, http://www.appalachiantrail.org/.http">www.appalachiantrail.org/.http://www.appalachiantrail.org/.