David Cliff Atkinson

David Cliff Atkinson, age 73, died on May 31 at his home in Falls Church VA after a courageous battle with prostate cancer. He is survived by his four sisters: Virginia Atkinson McCormack, Jean Atkinson, Julie Atkinson Schliessmann, and Melinda Atkinson Newell, and by their husbands, children, and grandchildren. His parents, Cliff Atkinson Jr and Genevieve Olson Atkinson, are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

After graduating from McLean High School in 1965, Dave attended Northern Virginia Community College, receiving a degree in Electronics Technology. Soon after, he joined the US Army, serving from 1967 to 1970, and graduating from their school of finance. He returned, lived in Falls Church, worked in electronics repair, and then joined the US Postal Service’s regional facility in Merrifield. In 2007 he retired after 30 years.

Dave loved to read, especially about history, the Civil War in particular. He followed his favorite sports teams and was an excellent golfer in his younger days. As he got older, he enjoyed fishing and coin collecting, growing tomatoes, and taking day trips, especially to find some good apples to share with family and neighbors.

His family is gathering for a small private service at his cremation, and later they’ll take one of Dave’s day trips, driving his car and wearing his baseball cap collection, to leave a little bit of Dave at his favorite places.

The family requests that, instead of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Inova Schar Cancer Center, where he was participating in a clinical trial, and being very well cared for.