Robert Paul Atkinson, age 76, of North Bend Road, Stanton, Kentucky passed away at his residence on Friday, March 15, 2013. Born in Stanton, KY, he was the son of the late Robert Irvine and Elsie Lee Martin Atkinson. He was a graduate of Powell County High School and Berea College and received his masters degree from Eastern Kentucky University. He then became a teacher and basketball coach at Fleming Neon High School, Powell County High School, Falmouth High School, Whitehall Elementary, Pendleton County High School and Louisville Shawnee High School. He was a former superintendent of the Powell County Board of Education and he was a former principal of Lynch High School and Trimble County High School. He then served as principal in the Clark County School System where he retired. At the time of his death he was a farmer in Powell County and Bath County. Robert Paul Atkinson was a member of the Stanton First Presbyterian Church, the Powell County High School Basketball Hall of Fame, the Powell County Livestock Producers Board of Directors, the Powell County Soil Conservation Board, the Powell County Extension Council, the Powell County Agricultural Advisory Council, the Kentucky Cattleman's Association and the Powell County Lions Club. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Clarence Atkinson and by his three sisters, Mary Lou Atkinson, Bonnie Atkinson Derickson and Nancy Atkinson Walters. He is survived by three daughters: Johnna Lee Atkinson-Bigelow and her husband, Brad of Somerset, KY, Jill Kristin Atkinson of Louisville, KY and Jolie Margaret Thompson and her husband, Jon of St. Petersburg, FL; four grandchildren: Braden Paul Bigelow, Brynlee Minee' Bigelow, Jonathan Cade Thompson and Chloe Alexandra Thompson and one sister, Nellie Atkinson Winchell of Lexington, KY. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Hearne Funeral Home, Inc., 125 West College Avenue, Stanton, KY. Visitation will be after 6:00 P.M. on Monday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Stanton Cemetery, Stanton, KY with C. B. Martin, Mike Reed, Ronnie Knox, W. H. Gilbert, Chuck Cecil, Dewey Hollon, J.W. Stephens and Chester Crabtree serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Hybert Atkinson, Darrell and Sandy Houston and Patrick McCoy. Arrangements by Hearne Funeral Home, Inc.
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