Rev. Virgil O. Atkins O. Atkins

Rev. VIRGIL O. ATKINS, 79, of Huntington passed to a new life on Thursday, December 11, 2003, at his residence. Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the White Chapel Mausoleum by the Rev. Carl Lilly. Burial will follow. He was born April 13, 1924, in Huntington, son of the late James W. Atkins and Erma Belle Smith Atkins Jones. He was a retired minister and former owner of 20th Street Sign Shop and All Rite Sign Shop. He was a U.S. Navy veteran having served in the South Pacific during WWII. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James William Atkins Jr. Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Anna M. Turley Atkins; two sons, James R. Atkins and Virgil C. Atkins and his wife Judy, all of Huntington; two daughters, Loanna Fox and her husband Carl Fox Jr. of Proctorville, Ohio, and Vivian Smith and her longtime companion Clyde Smith of Huntington; 10 grandchildren, Kimberly Bacon, John R. Smith Jr., Carl 'Dale' Fox III, David, Jason and Stephen Fox, Christie Jeffrey, Lisa Oberdick, Jimmette Starbird and James Christopher Atkins; nine great-grandchildren; sister Cleo Johnson and her husband Lee who was like a brother and lifelong friend to Virgil; sister-in-law Dorothy 'Dot' Atkins and a host of family and friends. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Ronald Brownfield and Hospice of Huntington. Friends may call from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Reger Funeral Home. A procession will depart for the cemetery at 2 p.m. from the funeral home. Howard P. Hall VFW Post 1064 of Huntington will conduct military graveside rites.