Biography:

Dr. Anson Robert Atkinson was born on the 8th of November, 1909 in Embro, Ontario.  Dr. Atkinson was the eldest of 3 children born to Dr. Howard Burgess Atkinson and the former Annie Jane Rutherford.  His father was a veterinary surgeon who had an animal medical practice in the Village of Embro with his brother Edgar, who was also a veterinarian.   Dr. Anson Atkinson siblings were; Roy Howard Atkinson and Jean Burgess Atkinson.

Dr. Atkinson was educated at Embro Public School and graduated from Woodstock Collegiate Institute.  He did pre-med courses at the University of Western Ontario prior to attending McGill University in 1930. Dr. Atkinson graduated M.D. from McGill University in 1935 and interned in London, Ontario.

Dr. Atkinson married Helen May Merner in London on the 7th of October, 1936.  Mrs. Atkinson was born in Zurich, Ontario on the 21st of November, 1914.  She was the youngest of 7 children born to Jonathan Joseph Merner and the former Clara Edith Graham.  Her father was a merchant in Zurich and a Member of Parliament representing Huron South in the House of Commons from 1911 until 1921.  (Jonathan Joseph Merner died in Windsor, Ontario on the 26th of February, 1929).  Mrs. Atkinson’s siblings were; Wilhelmina “Annie” Merner, Edward Graham Merner, Jonathan “Clare” Merner, Greta Evelyn Merner, Mable Beatrice Merner and Thomas Borden Merner.  Mrs. Atkinson was a nurse.

Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson had 2 children; Pat and Mary Lou.

In the mid 1930’s Dr. Atkinson had a medical practice located at 47 King Street West in Chatham.  By the mid 1940’s Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson lived in Norwood.

Dr. Atkinson died on the 2nd of October, 1978.  Mrs. Atkinson died in London in April, of 1982.  Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson were buried at the Norwood Cemetery.

*Dr. Atkinson’s brother Roy became a funeral director.  Dr. Atkinson’s sister Jean graduated from The University of Toronto in 1939 with a B.A. in physiotherapy.  She resigned a position with the Ontario Hospital in Woodstock to enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941, during WWII.  Section Officer Jean Atkinson was killed in a plane crash near Calgary, Alberta with 5 other military personnel on the 23rd of November, 1944.  She was buried at the Embro Cemetery.

**Mrs. Atkinson’s brothers Jonathan and Thomas Merner both served with the United States Armed Forces during WWII.  

***Mrs. Atkinson’s brother Dr. Thomas Borden Merner was a physician who practiced in Fort William, Ontario, (now known as Thunder Bay), Lake Kushaqua, New York and in Faribault, Minnesota, U.S.A.  Her brother Dr. Edward Graham Merner became a dentist.