Paul H. Atkins

Paul H. Atkins, 79, of Sheffield, died Monday, Dec. 9, 2002. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. today at Colbert Memorial Chapel. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Brad Mitchell officiating.He is survived by his wife, Thelma Counce Atkins; daughters, Paula Jowers and husband, Leonard, Birmingham, Kaye Myhan and husband, Don, Aurora, Ill.; brother, Douglas Atkins and wife, Louise, Corinth, Miss.; grandchildren, Jason, Jeremy and Julianne Jowers, Birmingham, Jenna Stuebs, Marysville, Ohio, Tyler Myhan, East Lansing, Mich.; great-grandchildren, Lillian R. and Jacob L. Jowers.He was preceded in death by his father, Hudson Atkins, and mother, Mary Roberts Atkins.Paul was born in Counce, Tenn., on May 28, 1923 and attended Shiloh High School, Shiloh, Tenn., the University of North Alabama, LaSalle Extension University (accounting major), and Basic Engineering School, USN.He was a resident of the Shoals area since 1941 and a member of First Baptist Church of Sheffield, Ala., since the 1950s.He was past president of the Wilson Dam chapter of the TVA Engineering Association, past president of the Muscle Shoals chapter of the National Association of Management Accountants and past program director of the Muscle Shoals chapter of the National Management Association.In 1973, he was awarded the title of certified administrative manager by the American Management Association. He was also a member of the Tennessee Valley Art Association and Friends of the Sheffield Public Library.He retired from TVA at Muscle Shoals, Ala., 1985, as chief of administrative services, division of chemical operations, after 41 years of service.He was a member of the TVA Retirees Association and the USS LST Association.Paul was a World War II veteran aboard the USS LST 511 during In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the building fund of First Baptist Church, Sheffield, or the American Cancer Society.The family wishes to express special thanks to Drs. Daugherty, Patel, Turk, L. McCoy, Ridgeway and Clarke and the Shoals Hospital third-floor nursing staff and respiratory therapy staff.Pallbearers will include Jason Jowers, Jeremy Jowers, Tyler Myhan, Kyle Stuebs, Joe Austin, Matthew Bedford and Kenny Webb.Honorary pallbearers will include Stuart Sloan, Charles W. Porter, Gilbert Washburn, Bill Blenkinsopp, Billy Henson, Wade Sherrell, Roy Caddell and the First Baptist Church family.Colbert Memorial Chapel is directing.