Memorial service for William John Atkinson, M.D., 83, Lawton will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 16 in Holy Family Catholic Church with Rev. Philip Seeton officiating. Dr. Atkinson died Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at his home after he succumbed to injuries received from a head injury caused by a fall. Arrangements are under the direction of the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. He was born January 28, 1930 to William Henry and Marcella Phelan Atkinson in Aurora, Illinois. He married Shirley Fletcher August 22, 1953 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Aurora. They were married 60 years. Bill joined the Navy February 1951 and was attached to the Marine Corps as a Corpsman. While on patrol in Korea he was wounded; receiving the Purple Heart, Letter of Commendation, Korean Service Medal with 2 stars and the United Nations Service Medal. Immediately after being discharged from the Navy in 1953 he returned to premed studies at St. Procopius School - (Benedictine College). His lifetime dream was realized when he was accepted at Marquette School of Medicine in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1954; graduating in 1958. He joined the US Public Health Service for his internship in Seattle, Washington and his Surgery Residency in Staten Island, New York. He remained with the USPHS and was assigned to the USPHS - Lawton Indian Hospital as their surgeon and Director of Medical Services in 1962. In 1967 he went into private practice. He was on the staff of SWMC and CCMH. He was on many committees including Utilization and Review Board, Tumor Board and the OU Physician Residency Program. He read consults for Oklahoma Rehabilitative Services. He also worked for many years for CSL (plasma bank) as their medical consultant. He retired from private practice in 2005 but maintained his medical license until his death. He missed not working with his patients and the medical staff on a day to day basis. His special loves were medicine and his family; he also enjoyed camping with his wife, working in his yard, his workshop and playing with his standard Poodles. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, a 4th degree Knights of Columbus, American Medical Association, Oklahoma Medical Association, Comanche County Medical Society and belonged to many other organizations over the 51 years that he lived in Lawton. He and his wife participated in the Allied Officer program at Fort Sill hosting officers and their families from many countries including Switzerland, Japan, Spain, Australia, Brazil, Columbia and India. He is survived by his wife Shirley; children, Daniel Atkinson, DDS and his wife Elaine, David Atkinson, Darryl Atkinson, D.O. and wife Lana, Diane Hammann and husband John, Dean Atkinson, M.D. and wife Julie, Dirk Atkinson, and Darcy Capps and husband Gilmer; grandchildren, Justin Atkinson, Michael and Marcus Atkinson, Melissa Mansel, Denise and Douglas Hammann, Danielle Farquhar, Claire, William Tate and Samuel Atkinson, Lendsie Odnoha, Hillari Krueger, Kelsey Ballou, Brady Dangilan, Girard, Brielle and Holden Capps and seven great grandchildren. Dr. Atkinson was preceded in death by his son, Douglas Paul, along with two sisters, two brothers and his parents. Dr. Atkinson has donated his body to the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. In lieu of flowers charitable donations may be made in memory of Dr. Atkinson to: Holy Famliy Catholic Church Building Fund or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 1010 NW 82nd Street, Lawton OK 73505 or to the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, P.O. Box 26901, Oklahoma City OK 73126-0901 or the charity of your choice.