Atkinson, Robert

Funeral services for Robert Bennett Atkinson, 86, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2011 at Union United Methodist Church. The Rev. Steven M. Todd will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home is serving the family. The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 18, 2011 from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Union United Methodist Church Building Fund, 4379 Union Church Road, McBee, SC 29101 or to charity of one‘s choice. Mr. Atkinson died Monday, May 16, 2011. Born in Chesterfield Co., SC, he was a son of the late Little John and Betty Lillian “Noonie” Northcutt Atkinson. He was retired from Sonoco Products Corporation after 40 years of service. He also served his county in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He had the respect of all who knew him and was thought of as a kind man who said what he meant and meant what he said. Robert was a dedicated and caring husband, father, son, brother, and friend. The family would like to thank all of his friends for their prayers and presence during Robert‘s illness, especially the caring nurses, doctors, and staff of Carolina Pines for their loving and kind care of Robert. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Gwendolyn Marshall Atkinson of McBee, SC; brothers and sister-in-law, John Lloyd (Nell) Atkinson of McBee, SC, Richard Tony (Sadie Amelia) Atkinson of Summerton, SC; sister-in-law, Bette Edwards Atkinson of Rock Hill, SC. He was preceded in death by his loving son, Ben Atkinson; brothers, Coley Atkinson, Andrew Atkinson, Sam Atkinson, L. J. Atkinson ;sisters, Thelma Atkinson Cassidy, Carolyn Atkinson. His nephews will serve as pall bearers.