Ashburn Gray "Doc" Atkinson

Mr. Ashburn Gray “Doc” Atkinson, 86, of Pikeville, KY, formerly of Thelma, KY, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 19, 2022, at Pikeville Medical Center.  Mr. Atkinson was born April 13, 1936, in Surry County, to the late William Fred and Eva Gentry Atkinson.  Ashburn graduated from Beulah High School in 1955 and Nashville Diesel College in 1956.  As a skilled diesel mechanic and welder, Ashburn worked for several large companies on major construction projects ranging from Indiana to Texas.  He retired from the construction and mining industry at the age of 50 and, afterward, spent each winter in Florida, where he and his lovely wife, Anna, enjoyed fishing together.  In addition to fishing, he loved good food, operating heavy equipment at every chance he got, NASCAR, and UNC basketball.  Doc was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and brother, who will be terribly missed by all who knew him.  Ashburn is survived by two beautiful sisters, June Atkinson Martin of Mount Airy and Kay Atkinson Williford of Indian Land, SC; three sons, Martin (Patches) Atkinson of Tazewell, VA, and Mitchell (Denese) Atkinson and Kenneth (Darlene) Atkinson, both of Pikeville, KY; two stepdaughters, Rita Kay (Sam) Butcher of Thelma, KY, and Earleen (Huey) Darby of Prestonsburg, KY; six grandchildren, John Brandon Atkinson, Felicia Dawn (Nichols) Holstein, Heather Gray (Atkinson) Koen, Jordan Tyler Atkinson, Pryce Gentry Atkinson, and Kaitlyn Renee (Hurt) Nelson; eight great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and a host of nieces and nephews.  Doc was blessed to be welcomed into his wife’s family, where he had the honor of being a stepgrandfather and great-stepgrandfather to eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren  In addition to his parents, Mr. Atkinson was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Anna Pearl Price Atkinson; his former wife, Irene Lawson Atkinson Stanley; his beloved sister, Lavon Atkinson Thompson; three cherished brothers-in-law, Donald Thompson, Grant Martin, and Lon Williford; and a nephew, Lonnie R. “Tripp” Williford.  A graveside service will be held Friday, April 22, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Flat Top Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, with the Rev. Daniel Koen officiating.  The family will receive friends Friday from 9:00 until 10:30 AM at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Flat Top Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Trust Fund at https://www.flattopprimitivebaptistchurch.org/.