Obituary of Harold Smith Atkinson HAROLD SMITH ATKINSON Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - June 21, 1997 Harold Smith Atkinson, 77, of The Village at Woods Edge, died June 19, 1997 in Southampton Memorial Hospital. He was born in Dendron, Va., and was the son of the late Seith and Hylah Smith Atkinson. A longtime resident of Franklin, he was affectionately known to his family, friends and co-workers as "Big Daddy." A first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater from January 1944 to November 1945. During his military service he was awarded a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, a Presidential Citation, the American Theater Ribbon and Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, three Battle Stars, World War II Victory Medal and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon. He was employed as an engineer in private industry from 1946 to 1951 when he assumed the position of Director of Public Works and Town Engineer in Franklin from 1952 to 1956. He was the Town/City Manager of Franklin from 1952 until his retirement in 1981 and subsequently served as executive director of The Camp Foundations from 1983 until he retired in 1995. He was a trustee for The Camp-Younts Foundation 1982, chairman of the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission 1969-1972, president of the Virginia Section of the International City Management Association 1970. Mr. Atkinson was appointed to the Commission on Local Government in 1983 and was reappointed by two subsequent governors. A former director of Southampton Memorial Hospital, he served as chairman for a number of years. He had served as a director of The Village at Woods Edge, president of Franklin/Southampton County Fair Inc., member of the board and former treasurer of the Southeast 4-H Educational Center, and was a member of Franklin Baptist Church, Cypress Cove Country Club, Harbor Club, the Moose Lodge and the American Legion Post (NU)73. Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Mary Ellen Wade Atkinson; a son, Harold "Hal" S. Atkinson Jr. and his wife, Barbara of Bay Leaf, N.C.; a brother, Laurie V. Atkinson of Huntsville, Ala.; two grandchildren, Susan Atkinson and Pam Naglieri; two great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Andrew Naglieri. A graveside funeral with full military honors will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in Poplar Spring Cemetery by the Rev. Dr. Ronald W. Rowe and the Rev. Dr. Roy DeBrand. The family will receive friends at The Village at Woods Edge, 1401 N. High St. from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Franklin Fire and Rescue Squad or the Bay Leaf Volunteer Fire Dept., 11713 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27614. Wright Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: B4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– Harold Smith Atkinson, 77, of Franklin, Virginia, died on 19 Jun 1997 in Southampton Memorial Hospital. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and former Franklin city manager. A graveside funeral with full military honors was held on 23 Jun 1997 at Poplar Spring Cemetery, conducted by Rev. Dr. Ronald W. Rowe and Rev. Dr. Roy DeBrand. ––– Transcript ––– HAROLD SMITH ATKINSON Harold Smith Atkinson, 77, of The Village at Woods Edge, died June 19, 1997 in Southampton Memorial Hospital. He was born in Dendron, Va., and was the son of the late Seith and Hylah Smith Atkinson. A longtime resident of Franklin, he was affectionately known to his family, friends and co-workers as "Big Daddy." A first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater from January 1944 to November 1945. During his military service he was awarded a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, a Presidential Citation, the American Theater Ribbon and Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, three Battle Stars, World War II Victory Medal and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon. He was employed as an engineer in private industry from 1946 to 1951 when he assumed the position of Director of Public Works and Town Engineer in Franklin from 1952 to 1956. He was the Town/City Manager of Franklin from 1952 until his retirement in 1981 and subsequently served as executive director of The Camp Foundations from 1983 until he retired in 1995. He was a trustee for The Camp-Younts Foundation 1982, chairman of the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission 1969-1972, president of the Virginia Section of the International City Management Association 1970. Mr. Atkinson was appointed to the Commission on Local Government in 1983 and was reappointed by two subsequent governors. A former director of Southampton Memorial Hospital, he served as chairman for a number of years. He had served as a director of The Village at Woods Edge, president of Franklin/Southampton County Fair Inc., member of the board and former treasurer of the Southeast 4-H Educational Center, and was a member of Franklin Baptist Church, Cypress Cove Country Club, Harbor Club, the Moose Lodge and the American Legion Post 73. Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Mary Ellen Wade Atkinson; a son, Harold "Hal" S. Atkinson Jr. and his wife, Barbara of Bay Leaf, N.C.; a brother, Laurie V. Atkinson of Huntsville, Ala.; two grandchildren, Susan Atkinson and Pam Naglieri; two great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Andrew Naglieri. A graveside funeral with full military honors was conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in Poplar Spring Cemetery by the Rev. Dr. Ronald W. Rowe and the Rev. Dr. Roy DeBrand. The family received friends at The Village at Woods Edge, 1401 N. High St. from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations were made to the Franklin Fire and Rescue Squad or the Bay Leaf Volunteer Fire Dept., 11713 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27614. Wright Funeral Home handled arrangements. ––– Vital Statistics ––– |------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Name | Harold Smith Atkinson | | Age | 77 years | | Birth | 1920 (estimated); Dendron, Virginia | | Death | 19 Jun 1997; Southampton Memorial Hospital, Franklin, Virginia | |------------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | | Harold Smith Atkinson | Decedent | Franklin, Virginia | | Mary Ellen Wade Atkinson | Wife | Franklin, Virginia | | Harold "Hal" S. Atkinson Jr. | Son | Bay Leaf, North Carolina | | Barbara Atkinson | Daughter-in-law | Bay Leaf, North Carolina | | Laurie V. Atkinson | Brother | Huntsville, Alabama | | Susan Atkinson | Granddaughter | [Location not specified] | | Pam Naglieri | Granddaughter | [Location not specified] | | Benjamin Naglieri | Great-grandson | [Location not specified] | | Andrew Naglieri | Great-grandson | [Location not specified] | | Seith Atkinson | Father (deceased) | [Not specified] | | Hylah Smith Atkinson | Mother (deceased) | [Not specified] | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |--------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Location | Norfolk, Virginia | | Name | The Virginian-Pilot | | Date | 21 June 1997 | | Edition | Final | | Section | Local | | Page | B4 | |--------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Served as first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II. • Served in the Pacific Theater from January 1944 to November 1945. • Awarded Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and other honors. • Employed as engineer from 1946 to 1951. • Director of Public Works and Town Engineer of Franklin from 1952 to 1956. • City Manager of Franklin from 1952 to 1981. • Executive director of The Camp Foundations from 1983 to 1995. • Trustee of The Camp-Younts Foundation (1982). • Chairman, Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission (1969–1972). • President, Virginia Section of the International City Management Association (1970). • Appointed to the Commission on Local Government in 1983; reappointed twice. • Former director and chairman of Southampton Memorial Hospital. • Member of Franklin Baptist Church, Cypress Cove Country Club, Harbor Club, Moose Lodge, and American Legion Post 73. • Also known as "Big Daddy". • Spouse's birth name was Mary Ellen Wade. 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