Rufus Lee Atkinson, Sr.

Rufus Lee Atkinson, Sr., age 91 years and 7 months, passed away in San Saba, Texas in the presence of family on Sunday, July 21, 2019. He was born December 16, 1927, to Mr. & Mrs. Wager Frank Atkinson (Frank & Lurlene) in Austin, Texas. Rufus was a graduate of Austin High School and Durham Business College and studied tax law at The University of Houston. He was a veteran of WWII and employed by the US Department of Agriculture and later transferred to the U.S. Treasury, Internal Revenue Service. After retirement from the IRS, Rufus went to work for a Law Firm in Austin and finally moved to the position of Bailiff in the Travis County Court system. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and devoted Christian. He surrendered his life to Christ during a meeting being held at the Austin Gospel Tabernacle. During his lifetime he was a Church Worship Leader, Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He loved to sing and continued until the day of his death. At the time of his death, he was a member of Red River Church in Austin, Texas. Rufus married Laura Waldene McCaslin on July 27, 1951, at the Austin Gospel Tabernacle with Rev. W.J. Lucas officiating. ...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

e was preceded in death by his wife, Laura, his parents, Wager Frank and Lurlene Atkinson, brother, Bennie Frank Atkinson, his daughter-in-law, Renee Atkinson, and great-granddaughter, Maesa Atkinson. He is survived by his three sons, Rufus Lee (Lee) Atkinson, Jr. and his wife, Betty, Keith W. Atkinson and his wife, Melinda, Joel Dean Atkinson and his wife, Jennifer; his grandchildren, Nathan and his wife, Sunni, John and his wife, Betsy, Lucas, Samuel, Alexandria, and Isaac, Justin and his wife, Leslie, Joelli, Jodin, Jenna, & Julia; his great-grandchildren, Ethan, Seth, Georgia, Micah, & Brooke; and a brother, Romane Atkinson and his wife, Mickey. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, July 25, 2019, at Harrell Funeral Home, 4435 Frontier Trail, Austin, Texas. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 26, 2019, at Red River Church, 4425 Red River St., Austin, Texas, with a reception in room 1 of the church following the service. Interment will follow the reception at Greenwood Cemetery.