Biography: Walter Atkinson was born in July 1910, in Calder (North Edmonton), and his parents were Thomas and Daisy (Struthers) Atkinson. The family moved to Grande Prairie AB in 1920. As a teenager Walter had a job in a livery stable, and also helped build the railway from Grande Prairie to Wembley. During the Depression years, he homesteaded in the Crooked Creek area. When the war broke, Walter enlisted in the army for 4 years and was posted in England. After the war he worked at meat markets in Peace River and Grande Prairie. He married Marie Lae in 1950. For 12 years they lived in Valleyview and opened a meat market business. He and Marie retired in Vernon BC. They had two boys: Harley and Dennis. Walter died in Abbotsford BC (where Dennis lived) in March 2000 at age 89.
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 316
Across the Smoky pp. 57-58
AGS website – Obituary Index
