Charles R. Atkinson

Charlie was born on March 20, 1934 in Athens, Ohio to the late Glenn and Carrie Atkinson. He attended Ohio University for both his Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music degrees, and Miami University where he earned his PhD in School Administration. He spent most of his career working for The Princeton City Schools, first as an Assistant Band Director, then as a High School Grade Level Principal. He also conducted the orchestra for many Staff Musicals at Princeton. Charlie dedicated his entire life to children and others. His legacy will live on at Princeton as he helped rearrange band music originally written for brass instruments to include woodwinds, and co-wrote Princeton’s own fight song “Go Princeton Go”.

In his retirement, Charlie served in leadership positions between 1988-2001 for the Family Motor Coach Association, serving as an area Vice President and National Senior Vice President before being elected President. Charlie continued to play his beloved clarinet in various musical organizations called the Frustrated Maestros in FMCA. He and his wife travelled throughout the US including Alaska in their motorhome and some of Europe and New Zealand in motorhomes.

Many knew Charlie as an avid model railroader, which was his passion even as a young child. Many times he would host an open house to show off his detailed layout. He built many of his buildings, track, train cars and engines from models or from scratch. He eventually earned his Master Model Railroader Award. Charlie served in various leadership positions with both local and national model railroading clubs and organizations. He served as convention chairman for the NMRA national meeting that was held in Cincinnati in 2005.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marcia Gossman Atkinson, his children, Anne Laun, Keith Atkinson (Amy Hamilton), Jill Wilkey (Dale) and Kay Cherry (Allen), his grand-children, Emily, Sam, Sean, Eric, Michael, Glenn and Stephen, and great grandchildren Sierra, Allie, Carson, RubyRose, AnnaBelle and Maggie. He also leaves behind a younger sister, Carolyn Lanning (Bill) and two nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Legacy at Liberty Ridge, Hospice of Cincinnati and the caring staff at UC Medical Center at West Chester for the support and friendship given to Charlie and his family.

A private interment will be held for immediate family, and a Memorial Service will be held on a date to be determined after the Covid Virus restrictions are lifted. Recommendations for remembrances will also be forth coming when the service date and location is determined.