Frank Edward Atkins, Jr.

CAPTAIN FRANK EDWARDS ATKINS JR. was born in 1897 in New Jersey, the son of Frank and Elizabeth Gratz Atkins of 30 East Walnut Avenue in Merchantville NJ. A sister, Maxine, was born several years later. The elder Atkins was a railroad executive. Frank Atkins Jr. was a 1916 graduate of the Manual Training and High School at Haddon Avenue and Newton Avenue in Camden and of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore PA,. He also was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Merchantville.

Frank Atkins Jr. was called to the colors during World War I, enlisting on July 23, 1918 in Philadelphia. He served in naval aviation, and when he was demobilized on November 18, 1918 at the Naval Reserve headquarters in New York NY he held the rank of Chief Quartermaster's Mate.

After leaving school he married Ethel Kaplan and took a position selling bonds. At the time of the 1930 census the Frank and Ethel Atkins had purchased a home at 3422 West Queens Lane, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

Frank Atkins entered the Army in 1941. He served with an Army Engineer unit. Captain Frank E. Atkins Jr. was killed on the afternoon of April 5, 1944 at Greenville Army Air Base at Greenville SC. He was supervising the loading of equipment when he was crushed to death.

Forty-six at the time of his death, Frank Atkins Jr. was survived by his parents and his wife, Mrs. Ethel Kaplan Atkins of Queens Lane in the Germantown section of Philadelphia PA, and a sister, Mrs. Maxine Atkins Gillam, of 7 Clifton Avenue, Merchantville NJ. Frank Atkins was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA. His wife joined him on October 21, 1982. She was interred next to her husband at Arlington.