LOUISE WYATT COLLECTION

       
        Services for Bruce Atkins, 48, scout executive of the Great Smoky Mountain Coucil in Knoxville, were held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec 17 at Mann's Heritage Chapel.  Burial was in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville at 3 p.m.  The Rev. Bob Mowrey officiated.
        Mr. Atkins died Wednesday at his home in Knoxville after an extended illness.
        He was a native of Stewart County and graduate of Austin Peay State University at Clarksville.
        Atkins began his career as a professional scouter in the Middle Tennessee Council in 1960.  He served as district executive in two districts and was promoted to field director in 1965.
        In March 1966, he was named assistant scout executive and camping director to oversee the operation of Camp Boswell on Old Hickory Lake near Gallatin.  Atkins was named scout executive for the West Tennessee Council, headquartered in Jackson in 1970.
        He was named scout executive of the Great Smoky Mountain Council in May 1976.  Survivors include his wife, Jane Elizabeth Atkins; two sons, Kenneth Bruce Atkins, Jr. and Randy Atkins, Knoxville; two sisters, Iris Heflin, Big Rock; and Violet Hargreaves, Knoxville; and two brothers, Judge Ira Atkins, Dover; and Perry Atkins, St. Louis, MO.  The family requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Boy Scouts Memorial Fund and the University of Tennessee Memorial Cancer Fund.

(Note:  Kenneth Bruce Atkins, Sr. was a ggg grandson of Rev. War soldier Lewis Atkins.)