Charles"Chuck" Atkinson

Charles (Chuck) Edgar Atkinson, age 83 of Wenatchee, died Sunday, June 12 at Central Washington Hospital. He passed peacefully, confident of his eternal home with Jesus. He was born July 15, 1927, in Webster City, Iowa to the late Charles Edgar Atkinson II and Martha Ermels Atkinson. He graduated from Webster City High School and went on to serve in the US Army (1945-1947) as Company Clerk in the 1120th Engineer Combat Group with the Army of Occupation in Germany. In 1950 Chuck began a career with Guy F Atkinson Construction Company that would run until 1985. Chuck moved to Wenatchee, WA in 1951 to work at Rock Island Dam. There he met Berniece Wise. They married on December 27, 1952. Through the rest of the 1950s Chuck and Berniece lived up and down the west coast with Chuck working at various heavy construction projects. In 1960 he took a position in the main office in South San Francisco, California. His real passion was serving as the business manager on a major project. There were additional transfers to Mica Creek, British Columbia, Sonora, Calif., Charleston, S.C., and East Chicago, Ind. He concluded his career back in the main office working in the insurance department. He and Berniece moved to the Portland/Vancouver metro area in 1985. He did some consulting and then worked in part time administrative capacity for Young Life for several years. In 2000 Chuck and Berniece returned to where they first met—Wenatchee. Faith and his relationship with Jesus played a central role in Chuck’s life and the life of his family. He drew strength from God as he endured a life plagued with near constant back pain and various medical issues. Nonetheless, family and friends will always remember him for his quick wit and enduring sense of humor. He was an early adopter when it came to personal computers and may well have been one of the few octogenarians to own an iPad. Chuck and Berniece Atkinson made nine trips back to New Windsor, Md., to volunteer with SERRV. He served for a number years on the board at the Continental Condominiums, known to his kids and grandkids as the Del Boca Vista. He was a member of the Wenatchee Free Methodist Church where he anchored the fifth pew from the front on the right hand side of the sanctuary. He is survived by his wife Berniece, a sister Martha Evans of Omaha, Neb., five children Charlie Atkinson (Brenda) Wenatchee, Joan Browning (David) Portland, Ore., Mark Atkinson (Janell) Portland, Ore., Steve Atkinson (Nancy) Portland, Ore., and Bill Atkinson, Boise, Idaho; 14 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister Anna Blanche Greig. A memorial service for Chuck Atkinson will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 18 at Wenatchee Free Methodist Church, 1601 Fifth Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial funds have been established in his name with North Central Washington Young Life and the Hospitality House family housing project in Wenatchee. We would like to thank the doctors and staff that cared for Chuck at Central Washington Hospital in his last days as well as all of his providers and staff at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guestbook at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones ~ Betts Funeral Home.

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Charles"Chuck" Atkinson

July 15, 1927 - June 12, 2011