Mr. Rupert L. Atkin

Rupert L. Atkin “Rupe” Pompano Beach, Florida, formerly of Grosse Pointe Woods, MI Rupert Atkin passed away Dec. 11, 2014 in Grand Ledge, Michigan. He lived a life of achievement, invention, leadership and humor. Born in Madison, Ohio June 7, 1918 to the late Lynn and Alice (Bower) Atkin, he majored in engineering at Ohio State University. He was a captain and Ordinance dept. chief engineer in the U. S. Army during WWII. He had a successful career in the automotive industry, working for 19 years at Kelsey-Hayes Company and nineteen years at TRW, Inc. Rupe held twenty-five patents including one for skid control brakes which became what is now ABS. He received numerous honors, including an Honorary Doctor of Science from OSU, inclusion in the National Academy of Engineering and was made a Fellow in the Society of Automotive Engineers and The Engineering Society of Detroit. He traveled extensively on business and wowed people the world over with his gin rummy prowess, was an avid golfer, a talented musician and the world's "last true gentlemen." He married Anne Richards in 1941 who preceded him in death in 2002. He was then married to Esther McKinney until she died in 2005. He will be missed by his friends, former colleagues and especially by his loving family: daughters, Terri White Tate of San Rafael, CA, Valerie Atkin of Saugatuck, MI; son, William Atkin of Grand Ledge, MI; grand children, Eric White of Los Angeles, CA, Justin White of San Francisco, CA, Kaitlin Wilkins of London, England, Dr. Kendall (Tim) Brown of Seattle, WA, Bennett (Marisa) Wilkins of Atlanta, GA, Philip (Nicole) Atkin of Willemstad, Curacao, William E. Atkin of Hazel Park, MI, Haley Atkin of Chicago, IL, and Emmett Atkin of Grand Ledge and Kalamazoo, MI; great grand daughter, Georgie White of San Francisco, CA; brother, Wendall Atkin; sisters, Marilyn (Mel) Mihal and Wanda (Tom) Parks; many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also preceded in death by son Gregory; Brothers, Roger and Vincent and sister Eileen. Special thanks to Karen Perry, Barbara and Joseph Frazier and the entire staff of Fairview AFC for their amazing care. A committal/memorial/reunion will be held in Columbus, Ohio at a later date. Donations in Rupert's Memory may be made to the American foundation for Suicide Prevention, 120 Wall St., 29th floor New York, NY 10005 or at afsp.org.

Mr. Rupert L. Atkin

June 7, 1918 - December 11, 2014