Francis Leonard Atkins, 92, died Monday at his home in Lebanon.
The youngest of eight children, he was born in Loma Linda, Calif., to Bert and Mabel Atkins. With his family he moved at a young age to Portland. His mother died when he was 15 years old and he learned to be independent, when not living with older married brothers. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and also learned the baking trade.
In 1937, at the age of 20, he married Jean Smick. Five children were born to them: twin daughters and three sons. He started his own bakery in Grandview, Wash., in 1954. He wanted to make a healthful product and became known for making great breads of different kinds.
His wife, Jean, passed away in 1968 and he moved to Auburn, Wash., to work for Rainier Institute, a health food store and bakery.
There he met and married Mary Hemerlin in 1969. They went to Shawnee Mission in Kansas where he worked as a baker for five years, before returning to Auburn and retiring. In 1977 Mary passed away.
He was 80 years old when he met and married his present wife, Anna. They enjoyed 12 years together.
He is survived by his wife Anna, at home; daughters Lois Canaday and husband Larry of College Place, Wash., and Carla Ballou and husband Dennis of Wallula, Wash.; sons Terry Atkins and wife Janet of Pasco, Wash., and Dale Atkins and wife Jill of Eugene; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. In addition, Anna's son and daughter-in-law, Don and Lynn Heller, of Lebanon, were an active part of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his seven siblings; wife Jean; wife Mary; son Bruce; and granddaughter Susan.
The youngest of eight children, he was born in Loma Linda, Calif., to Bert and Mabel Atkins. With his family he moved at a young age to Portland. His mother died when he was 15 years old and he learned to be independent, when not living with older married brothers. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and also learned the baking trade.
In 1937, at the age of 20, he married Jean Smick. Five children were born to them: twin daughters and three sons. He started his own bakery in Grandview, Wash., in 1954. He wanted to make a healthful product and became known for making great breads of different kinds.
His wife, Jean, passed away in 1968 and he moved to Auburn, Wash., to work for Rainier Institute, a health food store and bakery.
There he met and married Mary Hemerlin in 1969. They went to Shawnee Mission in Kansas where he worked as a baker for five years, before returning to Auburn and retiring. In 1977 Mary passed away.
He was 80 years old when he met and married his present wife, Anna. They enjoyed 12 years together.
He is survived by his wife Anna, at home; daughters Lois Canaday and husband Larry of College Place, Wash., and Carla Ballou and husband Dennis of Wallula, Wash.; sons Terry Atkins and wife Janet of Pasco, Wash., and Dale Atkins and wife Jill of Eugene; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. In addition, Anna's son and daughter-in-law, Don and Lynn Heller, of Lebanon, were an active part of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his seven siblings; wife Jean; wife Mary; son Bruce; and granddaughter Susan.
Francis Leonard Atkins, 92, died Monday at his home in Lebanon.
The youngest of eight children, he was born in Loma Linda, Calif., to Bert and Mabel Atkins. With his family he moved at a young age to Portland. His mother died when he was 15 years old and he learned to be independent, when not living with older married brothers. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and also learned the baking trade.
In 1937, at the age of 20, he married Jean Smick. Five children were born to them: twin daughters and three sons. He started his own bakery in Grandview, Wash., in 1954. He wanted to make a healthful product and became known for making great breads of different kinds.
His wife, Jean, passed away in 1968 and he moved to Auburn, Wash., to work for Rainier Institute, a health food store and bakery.
There he met and married Mary Hemerlin in 1969. They went to Shawnee Mission in Kansas where he worked as a baker for five years, before returning to Auburn and retiring. In 1977 Mary passed away.
He was 80 years old when he met and married his present wife, Anna. They enjoyed 12 years together.
He is survived by his wife Anna, at home; daughters Lois Canaday and husband Larry of College Place, Wash., and Carla Ballou and husband Dennis of Wallula, Wash.; sons Terry Atkins and wife Janet of Pasco, Wash., and Dale Atkins and wife Jill of Eugene; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. In addition, Anna's son and daughter-in-law, Don and Lynn Heller, of Lebanon, were an active part of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his seven siblings; wife Jean; wife Mary; son Bruce; and granddaughter Susan.
The youngest of eight children, he was born in Loma Linda, Calif., to Bert and Mabel Atkins. With his family he moved at a young age to Portland. His mother died when he was 15 years old and he learned to be independent, when not living with older married brothers. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and also learned the baking trade.
In 1937, at the age of 20, he married Jean Smick. Five children were born to them: twin daughters and three sons. He started his own bakery in Grandview, Wash., in 1954. He wanted to make a healthful product and became known for making great breads of different kinds.
His wife, Jean, passed away in 1968 and he moved to Auburn, Wash., to work for Rainier Institute, a health food store and bakery.
There he met and married Mary Hemerlin in 1969. They went to Shawnee Mission in Kansas where he worked as a baker for five years, before returning to Auburn and retiring. In 1977 Mary passed away.
He was 80 years old when he met and married his present wife, Anna. They enjoyed 12 years together.
He is survived by his wife Anna, at home; daughters Lois Canaday and husband Larry of College Place, Wash., and Carla Ballou and husband Dennis of Wallula, Wash.; sons Terry Atkins and wife Janet of Pasco, Wash., and Dale Atkins and wife Jill of Eugene; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. In addition, Anna's son and daughter-in-law, Don and Lynn Heller, of Lebanon, were an active part of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his seven siblings; wife Jean; wife Mary; son Bruce; and granddaughter Susan.
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