Luke Atkinson
October 22, 1911 ~ November 11, 2009
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Luke Atkinson, 98, of Delaware Avenue, Asheville, died Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at Memorial Campus, Mission Hospital.
A native of Wadesboro, he was a son of the late James and Effie Ratliff Atkinson. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Frances Atkinson, who died in 1952, and by 11 brothers and sisters.
Mr. Atkinson graduated from Lilesville High School, Lilesville, NC, in 1931. He then graduated from Mars Hill College and Kings Business College in Charlotte.
Luke worked at various jobs until WWII, when he became one of the first 2 men to register in his county. He was not admitted to military service at that time due to his job with Burlington Mills, furnishing nylon to the U.S. Government to be used for tow ropes for Army gliders. He later worked for General Mills, who transferred him to Asheville in 1950.
In 1955, he established Luke Atkinson Furniture Store on the corner of Haywood and Brevard Roads in West Asheville, where it is still doing business, managed by his son. The building was constructed in 1917 and is a unique part of historical West Asheville: it marked the end of the line of West Asheville's first trolley car.
He was a former Asheville City Councilman and Vice-mayor, and member and past-president of both the Asheville Rotary Club and the Asheville Merchants Association as well as charter member and past president of the West Asheville Business Association. He served on the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau.
He was also a member, former Sunday school teacher, and Deacon Emeritus of Calvary Baptist Church.
Luke is survived by his wife, Mary Beth Starnes Atkinson; daughters, Becky Aydelette, Linda Benton, her husband, Ron, and Sally Atkinson; son, Mark Atkinson and his wife, Gail; seven grandchildren, Jim and Nathan Aydelette, Tanya Bush, Allison Smith, Kristy Scholtz, and Seth and Jonathan Atkinson; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service for Luke will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Drs. Buddy N. Corbin and Tom Sawyer officiating. Interment will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.
His family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 531 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
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My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every one of Lukes family. What a great man he was!! I can always remember going into the furniture store with mom and dad and ripping and running and dear ole Luke never would holler at us. He always had a story to tell.
He will be greatly missed but is now in Heaven with all his other family. We will see him again. All you kids take care of Mary Beth. GOD BLESS each and every one of yall.
My thoughts are with you. Luke was a good man that will be remembered as such by many.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family. What a kind and caring man.
Becky, Linda, Mary Beth, Mark, and Sally; My thoughts and prayers are with you. Uncle Luther was such a wonderful man. I have great memories of him, especially the ‘one short leg’ story that he used to tell me.
Dear Mary Beth & Family,
I’m so sorry about Mr. Atkinson’s passing. Calvary Baptist has lost another great cornorstone.
when I was a small child growing up at Calvary, I thought Mr. Atkinson walked tall and the more I grew up I realized why. I’m sure Luke’s up there right now at the pearly gates asking St. Peter the same thing he asked Pastor Buddy Corbin when he came to calvary, are you a Republican or a Democrat? Pastor Buddy told him neither I’m a baptist. St. Peter might have a different answer altogether.
whatever it is Luke will just laugh and go on in just glad to be there.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
love, Pamela & Norman Rice
Dear Sally and family,
My heart is with you. Your father’s life was well lived. A noble man with strong convictions. May the sweet moments comfort you.
Lynn
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during these difficult days.
Glynn and Michelle Bachelor
Crossroads Assembly
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of Luke’s family. He was such a nice person to deal with and he will be missed very much.
Dear Mark, Mary Beth and family,
I am so very sorry to hear about Luke. You know how very much all of you mean to me. He had an infectious laugh and smile. I know the good people at Calvary will miss him terribly, as will all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love always,
Cathy Hopper
Mark, our prayers are with you and your family in the loss of a wonderful man, your Dad. God bless you all. Dewey Cockman
Our prayers are with you Mark and Gail. We love you both. May His grace and peace lead you through these days.
Seth and Stephanie Whitaker
A fine and wonderful gentleman God bless and be with the family at this time of both sorrow and joy.
my thoughts nd prayers are with you
Mark, Gail and family,
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
My deepest sympathies go out to the family. Luke was a great person and I will never forget him as I have reminders throughout my home in the form of something purchased from the store. Luke will be greatly missed but has left behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Luke was a great person and leader in the community and will be surely missed.
Jim and Family,
Our thoughts and prayers go out from Eastern NC to all of you. Please know our hearts are with you.
Mark,
My family and I wish to extend our condolences to you and yours at the passing of your Dad…rest assured we will see him again.
Billy Reynolds
Mary Beth,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. We have always thought highly of Luke and enjoyed talking with him through the years.
Jim and Barbara
I wish to share my condolences with Luke’s family. I worked in Luke’s campaign for Congress in 1970. We had such great fun. The President came to Asheville to endorse him, and I think then Congressman Gerald Ford made a short campaign stop, too.
Luke loved his country and he loved to campaign, too. He was one of the most colorful characters I had the pleasure of ever knowing. He will be missed.
Sincerely,
David Cuningham
Dear Mary Beth & Family,
I grew up right across from you at 151 Deleware. Mr. Atkinson was such a kind hearted man. When we were little he would give me and my brother $2 bills for helping him. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope God will hold you close to his heart during this time.
Our thoughts & prayers are with the family.Luke was a good man.When he would see us he would always stop to say hello.He will Be missed.
Mark and family, our hearts are saddened by the loss of Luke but at the same time know he is with Our Father in Heaven. Luke will always be remembered for being a Southern Gentleman at all times. We will always cherish the friendship we have had with Luke and his family. May God give you peace and bless you.
Randy & Pam
Mary Beth and family,
When I remember Luke, it will always bring a smile. He was a treasure to the community. I am so glad I got to know him. In the days ahead, I pray that your days will be warmed with the many special memories you have stored in your heart.
For the family, we are saddened by the loss of Luke, a wonderful, admirable man. He enjoyed life and always had a good story to tell. We very much enjoyed times with him, his cheerfulness and considerate kindness, all his lasting gifts of a beautiful life. May God be close to you now and tenderly comfort you with strength and peace. Our love & prayers are with you, Bob & Martha
Dear Mark and family,
We were so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Joe and Juanita Ball
To the family of Mr Atkinson :Sorry to hear of the passing of such a great and wonderful man. I know he will be missed by all. He was a true example to all who knew him. He was friends with my dad Gudger Austin when I was in high school in 1963 taking business courses. Mr atkinson gave me my first job in the office of his furniture store.It was a wonderful place to get started. He was always very kind to me. I know heaven is his new home now and one day soon we will see him again. Each of you are in my prayers. Lynda Austin Hensley
My sympathies on the loss of your dad, I have such wonderful memories of him when I was growing up in Asheville. He was a special man & I’m happy to have known him! Your family is in my prayers!
Dear Atkinson family,
I am sorry we cannot be there with you tomorrow. We have so many cherished memories of our families together. I am so glad Linda and I were able to visit with you this summer. We will all miss Luke’s laughter and gracious personality!!
Fondly,
Jan and George Welborn
Mark and family,
Diane Livingston and our family send our sympathy. We always enjoyed coming to the furniture store from Emma to see a jovial Luke Atkinson. He was one of a kind.We appreciate his support of conservative values.
Mark,Gail and family,
We are so very sorry for your loss.Like so very many other people we have furniture from your store.In fact some of it has been handed down over the years.
Mr.Luke was a good man and will be sorely missed.
Luke was one of the finest men i ever met i was born and raised in West Asheville And went to school with some of you. And you all are very fine folks. May God Bless You Luke Atkinson is in Heaven as your Angel
Luke will be missed by many many friends as he had too many to count. Your family is in our prayers.
The Cogburns
To the family of Mr. Luke Atkinson: Our thoughts and our heartfelt prayers are yours, at this difficult time. May the Lord Jesus comfort you in the days ahead;just as He comforts your loved one now,and always. Our prayers & love in Christ, Chef Carroll (Eddie) & Linda Fowler
We are so sorry for your loss.Our prayers are with you.Mr.Atkinson was a good man and will be missed by many.God has taken another angel into heaven.
Larger than life, generous, and funny–a great contributor to the West Asheville community! Such fond memories for all of us who knew him! Thinking of you Mary Beth and especially Becky and grateful for his life and influence.
Only good thoughts when I think of Luke. I look forward to seeing him again in Heaven along with our Savior our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dave Cheadle & family
Dear Sally, and all your family,
I just got the sad news via Diane of your Dad’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this sad time. May you be consoled by the many years of wonderful memories of our wonderful father. I love you, Joan
Mary Beth and family;
We just learned of Luke’s passing and are praying for you. God’s blessings to all. Love, Woody, Brenda, & Andrew
Can’t help but smile when we remember Luke. Most of our home was furnished from his store when we were married almost 30 years ago. Our funniest Luke stories were when we couldn’t afford new living room furniture. Luke ‘carried’ it for us because he said we couldn’t have a new home with old furniture. When the final payment was made, he showed me the bill where he’d written, ‘Sure hope we get this!’ When we were expecting our first child in 1985 and ordered the crib through the store, Luke and Mark put a big sign on it that said, congratulations Sharon & Thumper (Matt kicked a lot). Both stories still make us smile. Don’t you know Luke’s in heaven telling stories and making more memories! May God bless you and keep you ever closer during this sad time. Our love to all.
We’re so sorry for your loss. Luke was a ‘real’ character (in a good way) and we really enjoyed his sense of humor and big smile. He will be missed. You all are in our prayers.
What a long and wonderful life he had! I grew up on Brevard Rd. in the 50s and 60s. I remember how friendly and kind he always was to us rambunctious teenagers!
Many of my earliest memories include Luke Atkinson. I will always remember the Easter Luke gave Cindy and Linda cute little ducks and me a chicken- A great childhood memory. When I was hospitalized as a teenager, Luke Atkinson brought a smile to my face when he gave me a cross necklace. I join you in celebrating the life of Luke and share in your sadness at his passing. I am sure there is unending laughter and good cigars in Luke Atkinson’s heaven!
I purchased a bean bag from Luke once and he was so nice and had a great smile. I had the highest respect for him as a merchant, politician and community leader. We need more like Luke. Today those type are rare. God Bless You Luke. You are greatly missed.