Daniel "Dan" Preston Atkinson

On November 9, 2023, Rev. Daniel (Dan) Preston Atkinson of Hendersonville, TN, stepped into glory after a short illness in Nashville, TN. Dan was born November 3, 1953, in Beckley, WV to the late Rev. John S. Atkinson and Betty Lou (Corona) Atkinson. He is also proceeded in death by his sister Sarah Kimberly Keaton. In addition to his mother, Dan is survived by his loving wife of 48 years Barbara Elizabeth (Clay), sisters Cindy Justus and husband Phillip of Princeton, WV and Cathy Matherly and husband Mike of Princeton, WV as well as Brother-in-Law Kenneth Keaton of Pipestem, WV. Also surviving, son John Brent Atkinson and wife Amber of Springfield, TN, and daughter Lori Beth Atkinson of Hendersonville, TN. He is also survived by four Grandsons, Drew Preston, Jake Edward, Kaden Brent, and Clay Xavier, in addition to many loving nieces and nephews.

Dan grew up in Beckley, WV and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1971 while being known as “Butkus Junior” All-State Middle Linebacker. He was later enshrined into the WWHS Sports Hall of Fame. Dan went on to play football and baseball for Concord (College) University for 3 years. His college career(s) ended in August of 1974, just three months after making the life-changing decision to trust Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, due to a serious motorcycle accident. As he testified many times this “accident” brought him to the two best places in his life. 1) Serving as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and 2) the realization of Barbara as the Love of his Life. Dan went on to attend Appalachian Bible College and served with his father as Associate and Youth Pastor at Cooks Chapel Baptist Church in Pipestem, WV for 22 years. To hundreds of young people, he was affectionately known as “Coach”. Dan also served as principal of Pipestem Christian Academy for 8 years. For the next 20+ years he served in many roles but none more important than Papaw. Dan was fiercely passionate about his Lord and his family. 

The family will honor Dan with a memorial service on December 29th at 11:00 AM in at the Maranatha Baptist Church located at 314 Oakvale Road in Princeton, WV.  Dan’s internment will be at the Neely Family Cemetery in Pipestem, WV. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations for funeral expenses be made to Barbara Atkinson’s Venmo @dpa1492.

Robertson County Funeral home in charge of local arrangements. 

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