John Peter Atkinson

John Peter Atkinson, 88, of Woodbury, New Jersey, passed away on November 28, 2023.

John was born to Howard and Dorothy Atkinson on August 5, 1935, in Rahway, New Jersey. As a boy in Rahway, John was a talented athlete, excelling at wrestling and baseball through high school. He continued wrestling at Rutgers University before entering the US Army. After serving two years in Germany as a Morse Code listener during the Korean conflict, John resumed his education at Springfield College in Massachusetts where he met and fell for the lovely Marjorie Ann Lowe.

John and Marge were married soon after her graduation in 1958. Together they moved to Pinellas Park, Florida where John helped his father run his race car repair business and Marge taught elementary PE. Their three sons were born in Florida. As time passed, a longing for home called them back to New Jersey in 1967. They settled in Woodbury and welcomed twin daughters in 1972. The family has remained in Woodbury and surrounding towns ever since.

John proudly supported his family through a broad and varied career with Delta Airlines, Texaco, Varsity Flooring, and Simonek Moving and Storage. Although the scope of his responsibilities was wide-ranging, one central theme persisted: John succeeded in client relationship building and excelled in customer service.

Always the athlete, John also held a part-time, 40-year career as a baseball umpire and soccer and wrestling referee. He coached in the Woodbury Little League, Babe Ruth, and the Garden State Baseball leagues and spoke of these roles most fondly, often reflecting on the kids, games, and matches that benefited from his positive influence. He was proud of his decades of service to South Jersey wrestling, which inducted him in 2017 into their Hall of Fame. He’s spent time as a volunteer in many venues, especially for the Woodbury Booster Club for more than 20 years. He’s also a Platinum Club member of the SJWHOF, where he spent 12 years on the executive committee, the American Legion Post 133 and the South Jersey Baseball Old Timers.

John is predeceased by Marge and survived by his brothers, Gary and Bruce, and his five children: John, II (Ann) of Woodbury, Jeffrey (Kelley) of Eldersburg, Md., Steven of Nanticoke, Pa., Tracey Tyson (Joe) of White Haven, Pa., and Janet Fellon (Jim) of Mantua. He also leaves eight grandchildren: Douglas, Elizabeth, Matthew, Lisa, David, Emily, Hannah, and Kyla.

The family will receive visitors from 10 am Thursday, December 7th until the service at 12 noon at the DAVIS & WAGNER FUNERAL HOME, 171 Delaware St. Woodbury, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the WHS Alumni Foundation, 25 N Broad St., Woodbury, NJ 08096. Memories & condolences shared at daviswagner.com