Lewis R. Atkinson, 69, Camden County teacher

Lewis R. Atkinson, 69, of Gloucester City, a teacher at Camden County Technical High Schools in Pennsauken and Sicklerville, died at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Saturday, July 13, of complications from a stroke.

Before he took up teaching as a second career, Mr. Atkinson worked as an Air Force map analyst from 1964 to 1976.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Atkinson was a 1963 graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School.

With classroom credits gained during his Air Force years, he earned a bachelor's degree in social studies at what is now Chapman University in Orange, Calif. in 1976, a sister, Joanne Howey, said.

Mr. Atkinson earned a teaching certificate at what is now Rowan University and for much of his 25-year classroom career was a history teacher at the Sicklerville campus of Camden County Technical High Schools, she said.

After his classroom day was done, she said, he went out to teach homebound children enrolled in those schools.

He coached the track and field team at Sicklerville for eight years, and for five years was an adviser for the student council, the student newspaper, and a speech contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

After retiring in 2003, he was a substitute teacher at the schools' Pennsauken campus until 2012.

At St. Mary's Catholic Church in Gloucester City, he was president of the parish council, a member of the finance council, a religious education teacher and, for 25 years, a Scripture reader at Masses, his sister said.

At St. Mary's, he was a planner of the Christmas pageant and the Lenten seder, and took part in the Monday evening novena and prayer group.

A member of the Knights of Columbus and the Curcio movement, he attended retreats at Trappist monasteries in Spencer, Mass., New Haven, Ky., and Berryville, Va.

Besides his sister, Mr. Atkinson is survived by a brother, another sister, and several nieces and nephews.

A viewing was set from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, at St. Mary's Church, 426 Monmouth St. Gloucester City, N.J. 08030, before an 11:30 a.m. Funeral Mass there. Interment with military honors is to be at New St. Mary's Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Donations may be made to the church at the above address.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccannhealey.com.