Richard Dean Atkinson

Born in Des Moines, Iowa on February 26, 1929 to Art and Tishia Atkinson, eighth of their nine children. He passed away July 5, 2013 at his home in Dallas. Richard graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School June 1947, where he was deeply involved in the speech and drama department and appeared in several of the school productions. He was a graduate of Open Bible College in Des Moines; Valley City State University in North Dakota and Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. Richard was a practicing minister for over 60 years serving churches in Iowa, S. Dakota, N. Dakota and Texas. His Texas appointments included Maple Lawn, Mary King, Wylie, Asbury-Denton, Wesley-Greenville, First Methodist-Paris, First Methodist-Grand Prairie, Casa Linda and has served in retirement for 16 years as Minister of Pastoral Care at White Rock UMC. He served the wider church on various boards and agencies. From 1954-57 he served as a field representative for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association with responsibility for North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and the Central Provinces of Canada. His first marriage was to Beverly Crozier in August 1947, ending in her death in December 1957. He was then joined in marriage to Aloha Rosendahl in April of 1959. They shared 54 years of marriage and enjoyed the family of a son, Mitchell (Marj) Atkinson and a daughter, Karryn Torres (Ernesto). There are four grandchildren: Alison Atkinson, Parker Torres, Turner Torres and Carson Torres. Richard was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kenneth and two sisters; Wrethel Taylor and Eva Alexander. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and 4 grandchildren; brother, Art Atkinson and sisters; Grace Marquis, Bernice Snyder, Lois Houghton Dulin and Barbara Roberts. A visitation is planned from 6-8 PM on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at Sparkman/Crane FH and a memorial service at 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at the White Rock United Methodist Church, 1450 Old Gate Lane, Dallas, Texas 75218. Burial will be on Friday, July 12 at 10:00 AM at the Hunter Cemetery in Hunter, North Dakota.