Leon Atkinson Jr.

Leon Atkinson Jr., 85, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Friday, December 25, 2009, from complications from heart surgery. After finishing school at Jefferson High School, he went to work for Norfolk & Western Railway. While there, he attended the Harvard School of Advanced Management and retired from Norfolk Southern Corporation as Vice President of Transportation with 43 years of service. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy and was stationed in Hawaii when peace was declared. He was a long time member and served as a Deacon of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church. He was predeceased by his parents, Leon Atkinson Sr. and Bessie Graves Atkinson; and his sister, Lois Rountree McCoy. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Kathleen Wright Atkinson; his sons, William Thomas Atkinson, of Newport News, Robert Keith Atkinson and wife, India, of Roanoke, and Matthew Wright Atkinson, of Boca Raton, Fla.; grandchildren, Jennifer Atkinson Pottinger and husband, Stephen, of Virginia Beach, Ashley Atkinson Patton and husband, Jay, of Hazen, Ark., William Thomas Atkinson II, of Manitowoc, Wis., Kristen Atkinson Blashka and husband, Jason, of Manitowoc, Wis., Tyler Dudley Atkinson, of Okinawa, Japan, and Kathleen Elizabeth Humphrey Atkinson and Christina Margaret Jennings Atkinson, both of Kennisaw, Ga.; stepgrandchildren, Rachel and Marshall Erb, of Roanoke; great-grandchildren, Andrew and Cailynn Pottinger and Mackenzie Blashka; niece, Judy Rountree LaPradd; and nephew, Teddy Rountree. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff of both the Roanoke Memorial Hospital CSICU and the Glebe. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2010, at Oakey's South Chapel. Following a private interment service at Evergreen Burial Park, a Memorial Service will be held 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church with Dr. F. Tupper Garden officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church Organ Fund. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel, 540-989-3131.