Richard Atkinson Jr.
Richard Atkinson Jr., 44,
also known as Rick Comet, died Wednesday (Aug. 30, 2006) at Hillcrest Medical
Center in Tulsa, Okla. Atkinson formerly resided in West Hills, Calif. He was
born Nov. 7, 1961, to Betty (Garcia) and Richard D. Atkinson in Newton. They
survive of Newton. He graduated from Newton High School in 1979 and attended
Wichita State University. He was diagnosed with cancer on Jan. 16, 2006. He was
treated in California until March 18, 2006, when he moved to Newton with his
parents and received his cancer treatments at the Cancer Treatment Center in
Tulsa.
Richard had many talents and
hobbies. He worked as an Imagineer for Disney and created the Tree of Life
along with numerous other attractions. He enjoyed music and wrote several
musical selections. Some other hobbies included golf, tennis, pool and
activities in the science field. He belonged to the Skeptic Society and the
ACLU.
Other survivors include: a
brother, Ronald D. Atkinson and companion Kimberly Curiel and her children
Micaela and Brandon, all of Newton.
He was preceded in death by:
paternal grandparents, Ralph and Goldie Atkinson; maternal grandparent, Nicolas
Guadalupe Garcia; great-grandmother, Maria Rodriguez; and numerous aunts,
uncles and cousins.
Visitation will be from noon
to 9 p.m. today with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Broadway
Colonial Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be 10
a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton with Father
Floyd McKinney officiating.
Burial will be private.
Memorials have been
established with Southbreeze and Chisholm Middle School Libraries and with the
American Cancer Society, all in care of the funeral home.
