Arthur R. Atkins

Arthur Raymond Atkins, who resided in Melrose for 40 years, with the Late Thelma (Mayman) Atkins and his Son, John Mayman Atkins, died peacefully Saturday afternoon after a courageous battle with prostate cancer September 30, 2006. He was 72 years old.

Born in Boston, June 22, 1934, Arthur worked for more than 27 years for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Senior Hearing Officer. He was the Principal Planner for SOMBWA (State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance. He was a member of M.O.S.E.S., a powerful union that helped Arthur when there were hard times in the labor of his work. He traveled to many of the States for his job, among them were Arizona, New York and New Jersey.

Prior to his Government Post at SOMBWA, Arthur worked for many years as an Insurance Underwriter at Frank B. Hall.

For the remaining years of his life, he spent a portion of the summer in Kennebunkport, Maine with his Son, John Atkins.

Arthur served in the United States Marine Corps as an English Teacher and Drill Instructor during the Korean Conflict; He earned a Bachelors degree in English and a Master's Degree in Public Administration and Labor/Union Law from Northeastern University.

Arthur loved to travel; In 1979 he traveled to London and toured a large part of the United Kingdom He rented a stick shift car and toured 1800 miles of The United Kingdom's country side. In 1990 he traveled to Russia and all over China; He went to India, Israel, Australia, Arizona, Egypt and traveled to Italy twice which he really loved. He traveled to Paris and Rome. He also enjoyed traveling to Oceanfront areas as he loved the Ocean. Arthur traveled with his Wife and Son to Kennebunkport, Maine, Cape Cod, and New Hampshire; In the later years he went to Mount Washington in New Hampshire and spent much of his time at the resorts such as the Balsams of New Hampshire and the Bretton Woods and The Colony in Kennebunkport, Maine. Arthur had also traveled to Bar Harbor, Maine, as well as Martha's Vineyard.

Arthur had toured all of Canada with his dear friend, the Late Thomas Churchill Barrow during his youth.


Arthur was a very accomplished swimmer, ice-skater and runner. He was a long time member of the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church. He was a voracious reader and was a member of the Mystery Guild Book Club. He enjoyed writing short stories; antique car model-building and he loved to collect small matchbox-collectable antique cars from the 40's and 50's. He enjoyed refinishing furniture and making old junk furniture into brand new looking pieces of furniture that still have an antiquated look. He enjoyed playing the piano since he was a child. He also enjoyed cooking.

Arthur was the beloved husband of the late Thelma (Mayman) Atkins. Son of Anna Atkins of Plympton and Murphy of Maine. Loving Step-Son of the Late Agnes Mapplebeck. Step son of the late Reverend George A. Barrow and the late Helen Raymond Choate. Loving father of John Mayman Atkins of Brighton whom he took care of until John was 40 years old and a dear friend to Julia (Paxton) Barrow of Worcester, Massachusetts and Randolph, New Hampshire and the late Thomas Churchill Barrow of Worcester, Massachusetts and Randolph, New Hampshire. Dear brother in law of Shirley Hartman and her husband Larry of Cohasset, Paul Mayman of CA and Harold Goldberg of HI. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Arthur was loved and will be loved for an eternity; he will forever be remembered as a gentleman who was always dressed properly and respective of other people's feelings.