Dr. James Atkins

Dr. James Lawrence Atkins, 78, of Frederick, Maryland, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Frederick Health Hospital in Frederick, MD. He was the beloved husband of Patricia "Pat" Ann Atkins, his high school sweetheart, for 56 years.

Born on October 10, 1947, in York, PA, he was the son of the late John Lawrence and Mary Frances (Kessler) Atkins.

Jim graduated from York Catholic High School in 1965 and went on to the University of Notre Dame from which he graduated in 1969. He always said that his college sophomore year in Innsbruck was his favorite year of school. Jim followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather to become a doctor - he earned both his MD and PhD degrees from the University of Maryland Medical School. Dr. Atkins spent most of his career doing research, first at the National Institutes of Health and then as an officer in the US Army, serving at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Since retirement, Jim has filled his time fishing, playing golf, woodworking, and spending lots of time with his kids and grandkids.

Jim and Pat raised their family in Columbia, Maryland where they lived for 47 years. Since Jim and Pat’s move to Homewood in Frederick in 2022, they have gotten involved in many activities and Jim particularly enjoyed sharing his hobbies with his new neighbors and friends.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Jennifer Clements and her husband Jason and sons James, John, and Joseph; and daughter Denise D’Antuono and her husband Vincente and children Carmela (and fiancé Joe Thuente), Michael, and Madeline. Jim is also survived by his sister Susie Atkins Etter.

The family will receive friends from 1:30pm to 3:30pm on Sunday, September 13, 2026, and 11:00am-12pm on Monday, September 14, 2026, at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 8428 Opossumtown Pike in Frederick, MD where a mass of Christian burial will follow at 12 pm. Interment will be at the church cemetery immediately following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Frederick Benevolent Care Fund, https://homewoodlivingministries.com/foundation/make-gift-today or to your favorite charity in Jim’s honor.