Richard "Dick" Jordan Atkinson

85, of Noblesville, died Sunday morning, August 9, 2009, at Maple Park Village in Westfield, IN. He was born on December 13, 1923, in Indianapolis, IN, to Lawrence and Rose Atkinson, the oldest of five brothers and three sisters. He graduated from Broad Ripple High School in June 1942, and attended Wabash College and Indiana University. He served his country in the Army Air Corps from February, 1943 to July 1945, as a radio/gunner in a B-26 Marauder bomber, flying 67 missions as part of the 397th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force in England and France. In 1948 he began his 41 year career with BEST Universal Lock Company, serving in many different capacities. He spent 7 years in the plant, before moving into sales. Having worked two years in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, he formed his own company in Indianapolis. He was president of the R.J. Atkinson Co., Inc., a company with 25 employees as the Indiana distributor for BEST Locks until his retirement in 1989. His forward-thinking and entrepreneurial spirit made his company a model for many other distributionships within BEST Lock Corporation. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Rose Atkinson, three sisters, Margie Atkinson (in childhood). Elizabeth Diener and Rosemary McCrory. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara June (DeFalco) Atkinson; four brothers, Don, Art, Oren and Joseph Atkinson. Dick is also survived by 3 children, Doreen (Atkinson) Blakemore of Noblesville, IN, Jennifer (Atkinson) Pflug of Cincinnati, OH, and Kathleen (Atkinson) Arnold of Noblesville, IN; 9 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Dick volunteered with Hamilton County Meals on Wheels and attended Noblesville First United Methodist Church. He was part of the B-26 Marauder Bomb Group with other WWII veterans and served as treasurer for a time. Dick also served as President of the Resident Council at Riverwalk Commons Assisted Living in Noblesville. Visitation will be Tuesday evening, August 11, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel, 9900 Allisonville Rd., with funeral services Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Sutherland Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice.

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Richard "Dick" Jordan Atkinson

December 13, 1923 - August 9, 2009