Albert B. Atkinson

Albert B. Atkinson, 88 of Cambridge, passed away at his home on Tuesday March 16, 2010. He was born at Port Deposit on January 23, 1922 and was a son of the late Arthur and Reba Williams Atkinson.

He moved to Cambridge in 1930, and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1938. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Salisbury State Teacher's College in 1942, and immediately entered the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation and served continuously for 22 years, retiring in 1964 as Lieutenant Colonel. During his career in the Marine Corps he served in the Pacific in World War II, in the Korean War in 1951, as Associate Professor of Naval Sciences at the University of Virginia for three years, as officer in charge of Marine Corps recruiting in Chicago for three years, and in various positions of staff and command with the First, Second and Third Marine Divisions. On October 18, 1944 he was married to the former Annette Robbins. Upon retirement from the military, he returned to Cambridge and in 1965 established the Office of Dorchester Community Development Corporation, the local anti-poverty agency. In 1967 he was promoted to Eastern Shore Representative for the Maryland Office of Economic Opportunity where he served as Human Services Specialist until he retired in 1982. In 1976 he was elected as Mayor of the City of Cambridge serving in this office until 1980. While serving as mayor he was instrumental in having the Cambridge Police Department facility built on Academy Street; secured state funding for the Southside sewer project as well as putting curb, gutter and sidewalks on Race Street for the school children to use. He later served as a City Councilman for the City of Cambridge from 2000 until 2004. He also served on the Governor's Educational Committee and as Vice President of the Maryland Municipal League. Mr. Atkinson was a life-long member of Dorchester Post # 91 American Legion, Choptank Memorial Post # 7460 V.F.W., Cambridge Lodge No. 1272 B.P.O.E. and Cambridge Moose Lodge No. 1211. He was a member of Zion United Methodist Church in Cambridge, where he was a member of the Men's Bible Class, which he had taught for a number of years, and had also served as President of the Administrative Board of Zion Church. He had also been involved in Zion's Soup Day, and had started the carryout program at Soup Day. Mr. Atkinson had been a member of a card club and enjoyed playing cards every week. He had been in failing health for several years when he passed away at his home on Tuesday afternoon.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Annette R. Atkinson of Cambridge, 5 children, 11 grand children and one great grandchild.

A funeral service will be held on Monday afternoon at 1:00 PM at Zion United Methodist Church on Locust Street in Cambridge with the Rev. William R. Davis, Rev. Kevin E. English and the Rev. A. Delmer Willey, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery where full military honors will be accorded. The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM on Monday. Honorary Pallbearers will be Carson Windsor, John C. Bechtold, Bill McGinn and G. Edwin Howard. Arrangements are being handled by the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge. Memorial contributions may be made to the Endowment Fund of Zion United Methodist Church, 612 Locust Street, Cambridge, MD 21613.