William R. "Bill" Atkinson

William R. “Bill” Atkinson, 82, died Sunday January 5th, 2014 at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, KS.He was born February 25, 1931 at Ellsworth, KS, the son of Charles R. “Hogan” and Kathleen (Storey) Atkinson of Burdick, Kansas. He graduated in 1950 from Diamond Valley High School in Burdick and graduated in 1954 from the University of Kansas with a degree in Geology. He grew up hunting and fishing and helping his dad, uncles and grandfather run cattle in the tall grass prairie of the Flint Hills surrounding Burdick. He lead his basketball and baseball teams to many victories while in high school. An oil well was drilled on the family property during his senior year in high school, sparking his lifelong love of geology. After graduating from KU, he worked as a geologist at the Kansas Geological Survey in Lawrence from 1954 to 55, as a petroleum geologist for Colorado Oil and Gas in Liberal from 1955 to 1961 and as an independent petroleum geologist in Liberal from 1961 until he retired in the early 1990s. He served as the Southwest Kansas Area President for the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association during the late 1960s. He was an avid outdoorsman all his life. He enjoyed playing golf, shooting trap and targets, hunting, fishing and photography. He and Lynn loved to attend Redskin football games and they watched KU basketball on TV whenever the chance arose. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He worked hard and did everything he did to his fullest. He enjoyed people and he had a smile for everyone. He will be dearly missed. On December 15, 1956 he married Lynn Burton in Wichita, KS. She precedes him in death. He is survived by.2 Sons Brad Atkinson and wife Pam Apex, NC Mike Atkinson Liberal, KS2 Grandchildren Blake and Elise Atkinson Apex, NC1 Sister Jeanne Boyd Longmont, CO He was preceded in death by his parents.Cremation has taken place. Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am Monday, January 13th, at the First United Methodist Church, Liberal with Rev. David Randall presiding.In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association in care of Brenneman Funeral Home 1212 W. 2nd Liberal, KS.