Katherine Virginia "Kathy" Atkinson

1946 - 2025

Kathy Atkinson, a devoted wife and mother, an adoring grandmother, and a cherished friend, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 78.

Born to Fred and Dorothy Lane on October 10, 1946, Katherine lived a rich and adventurous life. As the daughter of a U.S. Air Force Colonel pilot who flew just about everything including B-52s, she spent her early years in Hawaii, Germany, and other parts of the world-experiences she carried with pride throughout her life.

Kathy's fearless spirit and sense of adventure were evident in everything she did. A skilled race car driver and instructor with the Porsche Driving Club, she excelled at being competent in a male dominated sport. She also treasured time at her family's lake house in Gallatin, Tennessee, a special place she shared with her family and friends from which her most cherished memories were formed.

Kathy made a lasting impact as an advisor at the University of Memphis, where she built meaningful and enduring relationships with generations of students-connections that often extended well beyond their time at the university.

Words from Her Students
"Nerf guns & Jesus boys will demarcate the most notable legacy Kathy left at the University of Memphis. A tireless advocate for students, especially the adults and commuters in her early years and future engineers in the latter ones, Kathy's compassion and passion knew no bounds. Known to take on VPs, deans, faculty and anyone in between who impeded student success or more scholarship dollars, Kathy was a champion for all students.

The Queen, as she was often referred to, was also the matriarch of the Order of the Goose, her intergenerational cohort of comrades. What once began as students & young professionals mentored by her at the U of M, the Order was formed through dinner parties on Stonewall, where friendships of 25+ years were born. Trips to the lake house, celebrations of life's wins & losses, career moves, weddings, and countless Christmas meals where stories were regaled over and over and certainly never embellished, filled the souls of these friends. Kathy was the heartbeat, but more significantly the laughter & joy, for them and so many more the University brought into her life and her into theirs."

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Wilbur "Skip" Atkinson; her brother, Bill Lane; and her daughter-in-law, Rondi Atkinson. She is survived by her sons, Jay and Paul Atkinson, her three beloved grandchildren, Madison, Chandler, and Wallis Atkinson, and great grandson Oliver Atkinson.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Canale Funeral Directors, 2700 Union Ave Extended, Memphis, TN 38112, with a service to follow at noon.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice in Kathy's memory.