Doyle D. Atkins

Doug Atkins went to be with Jesus early on Friday morning, 3/18/22, the same day 24 years ago that his first wife, Alice Elizabeth Atkins went to heaven. After several years of having health issues, he succumbed to the calling of his Lord at 2:31 a.m. at Luvida Memory Care where he had been living since November 2021. His family spent the last week of his life close to his side.

Doug experienced a life well-lived. He was born on November 6, 1931 to Ursel Jane and Samuel Martin Atkins in Buccatunna, Mississippi. His family consisted of 2 brothers, Roy and Troy, and one sister, Daisy Ruth. He was mostly raised and attended school in Columbus, Mississippi where he graduated from Lee High School in 1950. He enjoyed playing the trumpet, acting in the theater troupe, and in service to God at his church and Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly. Doug would tell you that his most important relationship was with Jesus Christ, then his family and friends and that everything he did was for God’s glory. Doug proudly joined the United States Air Force in December 1950 and served as a surgical technician, airman, and navigator on B-52 Bombers (his true joy!) for 20 years. He was stationed at the following Air Force Bases: Kunsan (Korea), Shepard (Wichita Falls, Texas), Connally (Waco, Texas), Mather (Sacramento, California), Eglin (Fort Walton Beach, Florida) and Offutt (SAC Headquarters, Nebraska).

In 1953 at a Baptist church in Sacramento, he met his first love, Alice Corbin. After a short courtship, they married on November 7, 1953 at State Line Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Despite long times apart due to flight schedules, they were happy to raise four daughters, Deb, Barb, Julie, and Janet. At every base, the Lord led them to thriving churches where they were able to teach Young Marrieds in Sunday School, serve on various committees, and where Doug was ordained and served as a Deacon. When retirement from the Air Force came in January of 1971, Doug moved his family to Austin, Texas where he used his new ‘skill set’ of programming computers to develop programs at Calcasieu Lumber Company, Glastron Boat Company, the City of Austin, and finally at the State of Texas Comptroller for twenty years where he was known as “Mr. Payroll”. During all that time working hard for a living, he put all four daughters through college (3 at Baylor and 1 at Southwest Texas State) where they received degrees (2 Teachers, 1 Speech Pathologist, 1 Social Worker) and got good jobs! He was a good father in so many ways! The girls each married and had families of their own, giving him 5 grandchildren (Malissa Page, Sarah Beth Tuncap, Mathew & Kristin Wolfe, and Laura Parish). Doug retired from the State in August 1995. He and Alice spent their new-found retirement busy with church activities, volunteer work, soup kitchen, and traveling (on fun trips, and many, many grandkid visits!). The ‘good times’ lasted until November 1997 when Alice was diagnosed with a level 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme, which took her life on March 18, 1998.

In the Fall of 1998, life changed for Doug. When shopping at Garden Ridge Pottery, he met Carolyn Sprayberry when they were looking at the same Christmas tree. After finding a great deal in common, they married on May 15, 1999 with their family and friends present. During their 22-year marriage, they traveled all over the country together. Their favorite place to go, where they spent 12 of their summers was in Lake Tahoe at Sitzmark Condos where they made many ‘seasonal friends’. They called it their “heaven on earth”. Cruising also became a favorite travel ‘go to’ where they visited many exotic locations including Alaska and Hawaii on their 14 cruises. They also became “Gaither Groupees” and followed the “Gaither Vocal Band” all over the country, including three of their cruises. They joined the Riverbend Church and attended there for several years. Further ‘road trips’ took them to Canada and 46 of the lower states where they had many fun adventures. When Doug was no longer able to travel due to failing health, they stayed in their cozy home in Austin. They enjoyed being ‘home-bodies’ until Alzheimer’s disease made it difficult for Doug to function.

In November 2021, Doug moved to Luvida Memory Care in Belton, Texas, where his daughter Janet was the Executive Director. Many thanks goes to the loving and diligent staff at Luvida that took such great care of him in his last months. Any memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org).

A visitation for Doyle will be held Thursday, March 24, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660. A funeral service will occur Friday, March 25, 2022 at 11:00 a.m., 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660. A committal will occur after the service at Cook-Walden/Memorial Hill Cemetery, 13700 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Atkins family.