Barbara Atkinson

1951 - 2025

Barbara Atkinson

September 23, 1951 - January 4, 2025

Barbara Ruth Atkinson, 73, of Whitehouse, Ohio, passed away January 4, 2025. She was born September 23, 1951 in Toledo, OH, to the late Walter and Bettie (Yeack) Anderson.

Barbara attended Maumee Valley Country Day School where she excelled at Women's Varsity Field Hockey and Track. She went on to attend the University of Louisville, where she met the love of her life, Don Atkinson. They were married October 28, 1972. While at the University of Louisville, she played center forward for the Women's Field Hockey Team and won the NCAA Div. I Women's Field Hockey Championship.

She served as the Queen of the Daughters of the Nile Masonic Organization. She was a member of Community of Christ Lutheran Church in Whitehouse, OH, Whitehouse American Legion Auxillary, The Pythian Sisters, The Ohio State Buckeye Sheriff's Association, the Cypress Lake Condo Association, and the Ohio Realtors Association.

Barbara served as the First Lady of the Village of Whitehouse during her husband, Don's, tenure as Mayor of Whitehouse. She loved helping with the Village's Christmas festivities. She supported her husband, Don, unconditionally throughout his 44 years as a law enforcement officer with the Lucas County Sheriff's Office. As a realtor, Barbara especially liked finding homes for first time home buyers, and received many prestigious awards throughout her career.

Barbara was the best wife, mother, and grandmother anyone could imagine. As only a mother could, Barbara prayed and worried for her son Lt. Col. David Atkinson, USAF, the numerous time he was deployed to combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Barbara loved her flower gardens and was known as the "flower lady." She enjoyed traveling with Don, spending time at Vineyard Lake in MI, and their condo in Fort Myers, FL. She loved celebrating the holidays with her family. Barbara was always up for an adventure, she enjoyed dancing, music, and was an avid reader. She was always extremely generous and thoughtful to those around her and had a fun loving spirit.

Along with her husband of 52 years, Don, Barbara is survived by her children, David (Pamela) Atkinson, Jennifer Atkinson-Minni (Ryan), and Erin (Anthony) Tytko; grandchildren, Emily Atkinson, Owen Atkinson, Allisyn Atkinson, Zachary Atkinson, Austin Minni, Andrew Tytko, and Elizabeth Tytko; as well as her brother, Gregg (Joan) Anderson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Bettie Anderson.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday January 14, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Peinert-Dunn Funeral Home, 6603 Providence St., Whitehouse, Ohio 43571. Her funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., at Community of Christ Lutheran Church, 6517 Finzel Rd., Whitehouse, Ohio 43571. Interment will follow at Whitehouse Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given in her memory to Community of Christ Lutheran Church.

www.dunnfuneralhome.com