Irwin Hubert Atkins

MCALLEN -Irwin Hubert Atkins, 94, born October 3, 1929 passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Mr. Atkins was an incredible father, mentor, role model, and the biggest cheerleader for all of his family. Mr. Atkins will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Irwin grew up in DesMoines, Iowa and moved to Chicago in his teenage years with his parents and sister, Patty Jo. After attending Sullivan High School, he worked for a couple of years for Billboard Magazine, and then was drafted into the US Navy and served during the Korean War as a petty officer managing communications on his ship. He later attended pharmacy school at Drake University, and this is where he met the love of his life, Amabile (Mable) Bettini. The two were married on October 4, 1958 and honeymooned in New Orleans since he had a lifelong love of jazz. In 1959 they started a family with their first born Bettina in Zookspur, Iowa. The couple would go on to have five children and eventually move to DesMoines and then Bettendorf, Iowa followed by their move in 1971 to McAllen, Texas.

Irwin worked for Medico Drug in the Valley as Vice President of Operations for nearly 24 years where he helped the chain grow from 9 to about 20 stores throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Even though he was successful in work, what always came first was his love for his family. Traveling the world with Mable or his children was just one of his joys. Family gatherings and dinners at his house was a weekly event.Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners were always celebrated at his house by extended family every year for the past 53 years. And he loved every moment of these times.

Mr. Atkins was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Amabile J. (Bettini) Atkins; his parents, Lawrence F. and Nina Majorie Atkins; his sister, Patty Jo Bartzen; his daughter, Bettina M. Atkins; son-in-law, Joel G. Garcia. 

Mr. Atkins is survived by his 4 children, Deborah Garcia of McAllen, TX, Robert Atkins of Austin, TX, Jeffrey (Berta) Atkins of Gruene, TX, and Linda (Craig) Blackwell of McAllen, TX; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. A special thank you to his long time care givers, David, Mari, and Darlene, for their loving care of our father. Without them, dad would not have been able to remain at home in his later years.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with 7 p.m. rosary, Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Legacy Chapels 4610 South Jackson Road in Edinburg. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, September 13, 2024, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mission.

Funeral services are under the direction of Legacy Chapels in Edinburg.