Mr. William Fletcher Atkins, Jr., age 83, husband of Frances Badgett Atkins, of Dobson, passed away on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born on April 29, 1927 in Moore County to the late William Fletcher Atkins, Sr. and Minnie Hardy Atkins. Mr. Atkins was a naval veteran during World War II. He was a truck driver for Hennis Freightlines, from which he retired. Mr. Atkins was an active member of the community and a member of Level Cross United Methodist Church. Mr. Atkins is survived by his loving wife, Frances Badgett Atkins; one son and daughter-in-law, Phil and Janet Hodges Atkins; one daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Gary Marion; and four grandchildren, Dylan Atkins, Damon Atkins, Emily Reeves, and Will Marion, all of Dobson. Mr. Atkins was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Glen Atkins, of Pilot Mountain, Roger Atkins, of Sanford; and one sister, Orene Love, of Pilot Mountain.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday April 21, 2011 at 11:00 am at Level Cross United Methodist Church with Reverend Rickey Spencer officiating, with full military honors given by VFW Mt. Airy Post 2019 and Pilot Mountain Post 9436. Interment will follow. The family will receive friends on Wednesday April 20, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Level Cross United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Level Cross UMC Memorial Fund c/o Diane Marion, 137 Dry Spring Trail, Dobson, NC 27017. Cox-Needham Funeral Home of Pilot Mountain (www.coxneedham.com, www.facebook.com/coxneedham is respectfully serving the Atkins family.