Obituary of Harry Thomas Atkins

Columbia - Harry Thomas Atkins, Jr., 89, of Columbia entered into rest, Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Providence Hospital. Born Friday, May 22, 1925 in Hickory, NC he was the son of the late Harry T., Sr. and Reita T. (Foster) Atkins. A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mr. Atkins has made Columbia his home for more than 65 years. He retired from AOC, where he worked as a Nurse Anesthetist. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Mr. Atkins also served in the US Navy during WWII. In addition to his parents, Mr. Atkins was preceded in death by his cherished daughter, Pamela A. Sizemore, as well as a sister, Joyce Sikora; He is survived by his wife and "heartbeat," Patricia Atkins with whom she shared a union of more than 63 years; loving daughter, Jennifer Barnett (Aaron); son, Harry "Tom" Atkins, III (Phyllis); grandchildren, Carrie Brown (Marco), June Philbrick (Matt), Megan Turpin (Daniel), Kyle and Brandon Barnett; great grandchildren, Evan and Aidan Brown, Xander Philbrick and Cason Turpin; as well as several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, on Friday, September 26, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3600 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29209, with Rev. Msgr. Richard D. Harris officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. A rosary service will held at 5:45 PM, followed by visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. The family requests that memorial contributions be made, in honor of Mr. Atkins, to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund, 3512 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29209.