Obituary of Lois D Atkins

Lois D. Atkins

Lois D. Atkins and her beloved husband Marvin C. Atkins have been happy residents of St. Petersburg for the last 23 years.  Lois passed away on April 2, 2023.  She is also survived by her daughter Nancy Savoca of Framingham, Massachusetts, her daughter-in-law Suzanna Atkins, the widow of her son David, and by three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Lois was born in Houlton, Maine and graduatedfrom the University of Maine at Orono and immediately started work in the mental health field.  Recognizing the important challenges in this field, she enrolled in the two-year Master of Social Work program at the Ohio State University.  Mutual friends introduced Lois to Marv Atkins, then a Lieutenant in the Air Force.  They married the day after Lois received her master's degree.  She told friends that she received her M.S.W. on Friday and her Mrs. on Saturday.

After taking some years off from work to build a family and accompany Marv through graduate school and development in his career in the national defense world, Lois returned to social work and showed outstanding leadership talents as the two of them moved from place to place.  Lois also had a keen interest in acting and performing in semi-pro theaters.  She was enticed by an offer to do New England summer stock but preferred to keep the family together.  They always enjoyed traveling, and when work could combine with travel, that was the best.  Thanks to Lois, they even toured South Korea, bringing war orphans for adoption in America.  After they retired from their respective fields, they had fun developing their skills in sailing, and later enjoying world cruising while others steered the ship.

After settling down in St. Petersburg, Lois became an active memberin the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College, the Museum of Fine Arts, the American Stage and other institutions.