Frances Louise (Hall) Atkinson

Services for Frances Louise (Hall) Atkinson, 88, of San Antonio (formerly of Lufkin) will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 25, 2013 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Brian Wiggins officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Mrs. Atkinson was born August 17, 1925 in Lufkin, Texas, the daughter of the late Ida C. (Perry) and Walter Edward Hall. She passed away Saturday, September 21, 2013 in her San Antonio home with her immediate family present. She was cared for by Amedysis Hospice.

Mrs. Atkinson was a teacher in the public school system. She received her teaching certificate at Stephen F. Austin State University and her music degree at TCU. She was the first female drum majorette at TCU. She was a choir member and played the piano. She traveled all over the world, and at the age of 76, she was the oldest to go on the tour that climbed Machu Pichu in Peru.

Mrs. Atkinson served in the 1960s as the State Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. She and her husband held the first Republican Primary in Angelina County in their garage in the 1960s. Eddie McFarland once said “She was a woman before her time in Texas politics.” She was an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Lufkin and was currently a member of First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio.

Survivors include her husband, Dr. Basil E. Atkinson, Jr.; son, Dennis Atkinson; daughter, Clarinda Miller and husband Ken; son, B. Eric Atkinson III and wife Darlene; daughter, Amy Atkinson Voltz and husband Steven P. Voltz; sister, Helen Hall Shive; grandchildren, Shellie Davis, Jeremy Jones, Joshua Jones, Sarah Atkinson, Laurence Love, Valerie Voltz, Stephanie Voltz, Rachel Voltz, Beau Atkinson, and Austin Atkinson; and great-grandchildren, Kaegan Jones, Claire Jones, Michael Davis, Ryan Davis, Lanna Love, and Luke Jones.

Mrs. Atkinson’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Atkinson’s memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 607 Jane Way Avenue, Lufkin, TX 75901; or to Samms Ministry, 5254 Blanco Road, San Antonio, TX 78216.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home