Timothy Joseph Atkinson, Sr.

Timothy Joseph Atkinson, Sr. of Chester, MD died at home on Wednesday, November 12, 2008. He was 63 years old. Mr. Atkinson was born on June 4, 1945 in Keyser, West Virginia to the late John Edward Atkinson and Kitty O’Brien. He graduated from Alderson-Broaddes College in Philippi, West Virginia in 1972 and began his career as executive director of the Potomac Valley Sheltered Workshop in Keyser, WV. He came to what was then called The Carroll County Association for Retarded Citizens (CCARC) and Summer Enterprises as executive director in 1988. His first experience with CCARC was in 1975 when he served as workshop director. He was promoted to executive director of CCARC in 1976. He brought about numerous changes both in operations and attitudes. In 1995, he oversaw the name change from CCARC to The Arc of Carroll County. When The Arc of Carroll County celebrated its 50th anniversary serving Carroll County in 2005, Atkinson introduced the tagline “Where Ability Matters Most” as its theme and vision for the future. He has been active in the community where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Westminster Council #1393 and is a past president of the Charles Carroll Lions Club He was an avid collector of autographs, including everyone from presidents, athletes, celebrities, politicians and was featured in Autograph Magazine in 2008. He also collected and enjoyed DVD’s of classic detective TV shows with his favorite being “ Columbo”. The loves of his life were his three sons. He is survived by his three loving sons, Timothy J. Atkinson, Jr. and his wife, Stephanie of Annapolis, MD, Christopher J. Atkinson and his wife, Lindsay of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA and Matthew J. Atkinson and his wife, Kelly of Chester, MD; two brothers, John E. Atkinson and his wife, Donna Marie of Keyser, WV and William J. Atkinson and his wife, Patricia of Deer Lake, PA; his ex-wife Bonnie Dixon of Arnold, MD; and an aunt, Sarah Biggs of Cumberland, MD. Friends and family may call on Sunday, November 16, 2008 from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 106 Shamrock Road, Chester, MD. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, November 17 at 11:00 am at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Queenstown, MD. Interment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Queenstown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Arc of Carroll County, 180 Kriders Church Road, Westminster, MD 21158, The American Heart Assoc., P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216 or United Cerebral Palsy, 211 Chinquapin Round Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Timothy Joseph Atkinson, Sr.

June 4, 1945 - November 12, 2008