Branch T Atkisson Jr

View Funeral Webcast HMC Branch T. "Corky" Atkisson, Jr., USNR (RET), 81, retired electrician and beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, went to be with his heavenly Father on Friday, August 14, 2009. A celebration of his life will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Riverside United Methodist Church with Rev. Gary Wedgewood and Rev. Tony Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors at graveside provided by the U. S. Navy. The family will visit with friends Sunday after 1:00 P.M. at the church. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to Riverside United Methodist Church Building Fund, 313 Sixth Avenue, Columbia, TN 38401, American Parkinson's Disease Association, 2300 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203, or VA Hospital, Volunteer Service, Attn: Darlene Haynes, 3400 Lebanon Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. A long-time resident of Maury County, he was the son of the late Branch T. Atkisson, Sr. and the late Margaret Pauline Ferguson Atkisson of Santa Fe, and late stepmother Rosa Lee Atkisson of Santa Fe. Mr. Atkisson was retired as an electrician from Middle Tennessee Armature Works after 39 years.Mr. Atkisson served his country for 43 years in the U. S. Navy and Naval Reserve in Nashville. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy on October 5, 1945 and attended boot camp and Corpsman School in San Diego, California. He served as a hospital corpsman at Corona U. S. Naval Hospital. He served on the USS Iowa, the USS Atlanta, and the USS Topeka. He ended his active duty in 1949 and enlisted in the Navy Reserve. He was called back into active service during the Korean War in 1951 and served at Bainbridge Navy Base in Bainbridge, Maryland until 1954. He was a Chief Petty Officer and attended training at the Nashville Naval Reserve Station until he retired in 1988. He received the following medals and honors, World War II Victory Medal, American Theatre Award, China Service Award, Navy Occupation National Defense Medal, and Meritorious Service Award. He was a member and past president of the Fleet Reserve Association #110 in Nashville for many years.An active member of Riverside United Methodist Church since 1950, he taught Sunday School, served as Chairman of the Administrative Board, as an usher, and was active in the Men's Club and Senior Citizens Group for many years until his health declined. He was an avid camper since 1956 and a member of the Dimple of the Universe Camping Club. Survivors include the love of his life and wife for 59 years, Peggy Jane Miller Atkisson of Columbia; son, Ronald Douglas Atkisson and daughter-in-law, Karen of Brentwood; granddaughter, Stephanie Lynn Mosier of Pegram; grandson and namesake, B. T. Atkisson, III and his wife Jenny of Spring Hill; and great-grandson, Jackson Douglas Mosier of Pegram. He is also survived by a sister, Geraldine Alexander of Tullahoma, half-sister, Mary Ann Callahan of Texas, nieces, Patti Alexander Canon, Debra Alexander Anton, and Wanda Jane Smith; and nephews, Steve Alexander and Johnny Smith.He was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Olivia Atkisson.Active pallbearers are George Woody, M. T. Potts, Harold Meador, Lavon Hooie, Johnny Smith, and Donny Walters. Honorary pallbearers include members of Fleet Reserve Unit #110 in Nashville; Fleet Reserve Unit #44 in Columbia, Fellowship Sunday School Class of Riverside United Methodist Church, Love Boat, Senior Citizens, past and present members of the Dimple of the Universe Camping Club, Parkinson Support Group members, Marion Davis, Gene Caruthers, Leon Parks, Dr. William Robinson, and Dr. Lucy Ledbetter. The family would like to express a special thanks to the VA Hospice and Nursing Home at the Alvin C. York Medical Center in Murfreesboro where Corky received extraordinary care for the last three years of his life.