Harold C. “Tootie” Atkinson, 75, of Strattanville, died early Saturday, March 1, 2014, at the Butler Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
Born on December 13, 1938 in Hickory (Hermitage); he was the son of Philip and Helen Warner Atkinson.
He grew up in Hermitage, where he worked at the former Rust Dairy and Sharon Steel.
Harold was married on January 31, 1960 to the former Jacqueline Webber, and she survives. They moved to Curwensville then settled in their current home in Strattanville.
He worked at the former Excello Corp in Detroit where he was a machinist, travelling to various local dairies in western Pennsylvania and western New York.
In the 1970’s, he started his own fire safety business, Atkinson Fire Safety. After selling this in the 1980’s, he worked for Potlatch Corp in the state of Indiana, where he worked until he retired in 2004.
Harold was one of the original founding members of the Clarion Eagles. He was also a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, Clarions Lion Club, Masonic Lodge, and past president of the Strattanville Fire Department.
He attended the Asbury United Methodist Church in Strattanville.
Throughout his life, Tootie was very active in the local dirt track sprint car circuit, both as a car owner/builder and spectator, where in the 1970’s, Harold was seen every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. He enjoyed his annual camping retreat to Eldora Speedway to watch the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars. During the summers, he enjoyed working in his garden and repairing tractors. He was always working on something for someone and would always lend a helping hand to friends and family.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; a son, Jeff Atkinson and his wife, Suanne, of Clarion; two daughters, Deborah Bottaro and her husband, Joe, of Sharon, and Nancy Wensel and her husband, Terry, of Limestone; and four grandchildren, Ashley and TJ Wensel, and Kyle and Sarah Bottaro; and two step-grandchildren, Jeffrey Coull of Pittsburgh and Elizabeth Coull of Clarion.
Also surviving is a nephew, Rick Atkinson and his wife, Jeanne, of Masury, Ohio; two grandnephews, Ricky and Ryan Atkinson; and a beloved cat, Butch.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Richard Atkinson and Philip Atkinson.
Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home, 638 Wood Street, Clarion.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in the funeral home with Rev. Betsy Cooper, pastor of Shippenville United Methodist Church.
Interment will be held in the Cedarview Memorial Park in Strattanville.
Memorials and donations can be made to the Clarion Forest VNA, 271 Perkins Road, Clarion PA 16214.