Alan Reginald Atkins, age 90, of Shiloh Ill., born March 17, 1932 in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, to Fredrick T. Atkins, and Dorothy E. nee Hughes, Atkins, passed Thursday, February 23, 2023 at Mercy Rehab & Care Center, Swansea, Ill.

Alan grew up in Portsmouth, UK, where he met Joan, the love of his life at a Lambretta Scooter Club in Portsmouth.   He often shared loving memories of their rides together to include riding away for their honeymoon on his shiny Lambretta.

As a young lad, Alan attended Southern Grammar School in Portsmouth, UK.

He entered the British Army for National Service and spent time in Germany as a Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineer where he served 3 years.  His role in the REME was a tank recovery team member and often spoke quite fondly of his time in Germany.

Alan began work after his time in the British Army as an apprentice patternmaker at the Portsmouth dockyards where he fine-tuned his skills in the trade.  He moved on as a patternmaker and modelmaker in the automotive industry working for Pressed-Steel Company in Oxford, UK.  In 1968, Alan and his bride, made the huge decision to immigrate to America and take up life in Schenectady, N.Y. where he worked for General Electric for many years.  Alan and Joan were very active in the local Clifton Parks Elks Lodge and hosted countless fundraising events benefiting the B.P.O.E.  Alan worked his way through the many leadership positions and was nominated as Exalted Ruler from 1988–1989 and Elk of the Year in 1994-1995.

In the Fall of 1995, retirement was on the radar, and they relocated to Barefoot Bay, Fla.  Here they both enjoyed countless hours of fun in the sun and spending time with new-found friends.  Then in December of 2017, they said enough to nasty hurricanes and moved to Shiloh, Ill. to be closer to family. Alan's one passion besides Joan was playing golf.

He was preceded in death by his loving parents and his big brother, Roy.

Surviving are his wife Joan, nee St. Paul, Atkins, whom he lovingly married on October 11, 1958; his son, Mark (Kim) of Millstadt, Ill.; two grandchildren Rudi (Jessica) of O'Fallon, Ill., and Samantha (Devin Kelemetc) of Shiloh, Ill.; four great-grandchildren Eli, Emma and Ethan Atkins; and Carter Kelemetc.

Alan loved the game of golf and continued to play into his nineties.   As he is now resting comfortably; we can only hope he is looking down on us with a big smile as he starts another round with his countless golf partners from years past.

A family "Celebration of Life" will take place on what would have been Alan's 91 ^st birthday.