Obituary of Earl Lawrence Atkins

Earl "Happy" Atkins, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, innovative engineer and business owner, passed away on January 19th at the age of 78 with his loving family by his side. Born on June 25th, 1945, in Greenwich, Connecticut, Earl was the eldest of three children. He spent his life embodying the principles of hard work and integrity, but always with a fun and light-hearted approach. A resident of Wilton, Connecticut and Venice, Florida, Earl was an avid golfer and a longstanding member of The Plantation since 1996. His passion for golf was matched by his love for model airplanes, helicopters, and target shooting. Earl's contagious happiness and readiness with a joke or pun made him a joy to be around. Earl's professional journey was as remarkable as his personal life. He founded his own company in 1986, growing it into a successful enterprise and integrating his family into its operations. His creativity, ingenuity and perpetual tinkering led him to design many successful products, including contributions to Disney's Star Wars-themed rides. He was a devoted husband to his high school sweetheart, Donna, sharing 58 years of love and partnership. Together, they raised two children, Jennifer (Rob) Gurliacci and Ryan (Alison), and were blessed with four grandchildren: Alex, Johnny, Natalie, and Olivia. As a father and grandfather, Earl instilled values of playfulness, ingenuity and fun. Earl also dedicated himself to his community, serving as a board member for homeowners' associations in both Florida and Connecticut. A celebration of Earl's life will be held, where family and friends can gather to honor his memory and legacy. His enduring spirit, characterized by joy, laughter, and an unyielding commitment to his values, will be deeply missed, but will live on in us.