Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (NIV)

Robert (Bob) Lawrence Atkinson came into this world on July 22, 1947 in Long Beach, CA. Bob passed into Heaven to be with his Lord and Savior on February 12, 2026 in Douglas County, NV, the day God ordained. Amen. He battled several different cancers for over a year and ultimately succumbed to the diseases. Bob applied for and was denied VA disability benefits.

Bob graduated from high school in Fremont, Ca in 1966. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam as a Marine Infantryman (Alpha 1/1). Bob fought in the battle of Huy City, where he was shot in the chest with an AK47. After recovering from these serious wounds, he returned to combat. During his time in Vietnam, Bob was exposed to the chemical Agent Orange on a regular basis.

After serving in Vietnam, Bob returned to the states where he was assigned to Camp Pendleton for the next year. Afterwards, he was honorably discharged and returned to civilian life. Bob was eventually appointed as a Deputy Sheriff with the Alameda County Sheriffs Office (ACSO).

After Bob’s retirement from ACSO, he worked several law enforcement related jobs, until ultimately retiring all together. 

Bob met his wife Antoinette (Toni) Tomei years after he retired from ACSO. They were married in June 2004. Unfortunately, due to the ACSO retirement requirements, Toni was not eligible to receive any of Bobs pension benefits after his death. Toni’s current income consists of a small social security award each month. This meager income will not sustain the modest 1300 Sq. Ft home she and Bob shared. Toni is in her 70’s, she has no children or family to help her financially. She has supportive friends here in Northern Nevada who have helped her both emotionally and financially. However, future costs exceed the help she receives from friends.  

On behalf of both Bob and Toni, those of us who have enjoyed them in our lives as friends, are humbly setting a fundraising goal of $100,000. Her friends will be participants in that effort.

Thank you, and God bless any of you who are willing to help this widow in need. No donation amount is too small.