Obituary of Daniel Atkins

Danny (Daniel) Atkins entered Heaven on May 6, 2023.  He passed away after a massive heart attack at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona.  A Celebration of Life for Danny will be held on Friday, May 12, at 10:30 am at Trinity Life Church, 1930 S. Wilmot Road, Tucson, Arizona, 85711, with Pastor Peter Kraft officiating. 

Danny was 80 years old.  He was born August 8, 1942 in Smithfield, Virginia.  He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Oliver and Floria Bell Atkins.  

In lieu of flowers, donations in Danny's memory to The American Heart Association, St. Jude's Children's Hospital or TLC Mission Fund would be greatly appreciated. 

Danny was a positive light and a force of nature in this world.  He never met a stranger.  Every person he met had the potential to become a friend, and many did. 

Danny is survived by his wife, Janet; daughter Danielle Tervol and husband Thomas, from Aurora, Colorado; sister Ellen Holland of Windsor, Virginia; brother Richard Atkins (Barbara) of Smithfield, Virginia; brother Jesse Atkins (Raye) of Chesterfield, Virginia; brother Oliver Atkins (Judy) of Hampton, Virginia and many cousins, nieces and nephews.  

Danny and Janet have a very large extended family which include Andrew and Lynné Lovett; Todd and Faith Canale and daughter Chiara; Daniel and Agi Fadok and children Brian, Leah, Freya and Atlas; James Fadok; Dan and Karen Beattie and son Kai, Kathy Beres; Dale and Paige Lovett and children Faison, Peyton and Luke; Andrew and Cody Lovett; Bryn and Leif Ovaldson and sons Jonah and Graceson and daughter Caitlyn; Tim and Kassie Matthew and children Jasmine, Skylar and Kaden; Caleb Lovett and Chloé Lovett. 

Danny graduated Smithfield High School, where he was a star baseball player and graduated Pima Community College Arizona with an Associate's degree.  After high school graduation, he completed a two-year machinist trade in the Newport News Shipyard.  He found that he did not like going home with oil from his neck down to his feet an decided to join the United States Air Force.

In ceremonies held on October 7, 1988, conducted by Colonel Gerald Warner at the 602 TAICW, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona, Master Sergeant Danny Atkins retired from the United States  Air Force after completing 26 years and one day of service.  He was presented his retirement certificate and third meritorious service medal.  

He began his Air Force service in 1962 as a Ground Radio Operator and MARS station operator.  He was stationed at ten different bases across the United States and overseas.  He completed his service as Superintendent of Exercise Development Division and Wing Frequency Manager.  During his 26-year career, he received numerous awards and accolades. 

After retirement, Danny worked another 14 years in civil service, concluding with the Office of Education at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson.  During his service and then retirement, Danny enjoyed playing fast pitch softball (multiple championships), golf (HOLE IN 1), bowling (300 and 289), hunting, collecting Hot Wheels, coin collecting and recycling. 

During the pandemic, Danny developed extremely critical COVID-19.  He was diagnosed in June, 2020 and then hospitalized at the VA Hospital in Tucson, from July 6th through September 8th.  Danny was one of the very few survivors out of the VA ICU.  With our faith in God, God answering prayers, his will to fight, our love for one another, the ability of all the doctors and nurses caring for him, always giving me hope and four months of therapy, Danny was said to be a medical miracle and God's miracle.  We believe God gave him these two and a half years to touch others' ives with his testimony of trust and belief.  His job is complete.

"His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."  Matthew 25:23