Dean Lowell Atkinson

Dean Lowell Atkinson passed away on June 7, 2011. He was born on March 2, 1921 in Waitsburg, Wash., the youngest son of Zo and Hazel Atkinson. After graduating from high school in Waitsburg, he continued his studies in Portland, Ore., until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. After training (partially here in the desert under General Patton), his company embarked on the Queen Mary for England. Later, Dean's company participated in the D-Day operation; wading ashore from an LCV on Utah Beach. He was in Aachen, Germany, when the Battle of the Bulge began, and his company was forced to the French-Belgian border. Later, Dean was awarded the Bronze Star in Leipzig, Germany. After the war, Dean enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) and graduated in 1949 with a bachelor's degree in business. He met his future wife at USC. She had earned a master's degree in library science. Dean last held the position as accounting supervisor at Aerojet-General Corps, retiring in 1986. He owned and maintained his family home in Palm Springs since 1970. Dean is survived by his wife, Norma Jean; and son, Rafe, with his daughter-in-law, Elvira.

To view and sign his guestbook, please visit: mydesert.com/obituaries.