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Mom & Dad more than COVID statistics

Raymond and Edith Atkinson

Wear your mask.

Over the years you have seen photos in the Butler Eagle of our dad and mother, Raymond and Edith Atkinson.

Dad, a two-Purple Heart Marine, in the Veterans Day edition, mom and dad each year for their wedding anniversaries.

This September, Eric Freehling, the Eagle community section editor, did a wonderful interview and write up about their 75th wedding anniversary with accompanying photo.

In the Eagle 2020 Year in Review — moments of joy — the Community section again shared another beautiful photo of our parents by Eagle photographer Harold Aughton.

You will recall they were the couple that met in the strawberry patch and were always holding hands.

Mom passed away Nov. 30 of COVID-19. Dad passed away within 24 hours of mom with COVID-19.

When you see the Butler County daily update with the numbers of new cases of COVID-19, the number of people in Butler Memorial Hospital with confirmed cases, the number of people in the ICU — please remember these aren’t just numbers — these are people. These are mothers, fathers, grandparents, sisters, brothers and loving dear friends we have lost.

We just want to put a face to the numbers. Please wear a mask — the next number could be someone you know or love.

Raymond and Edith are the parents of Rose Vaughn of Slippery Rock, Darlene Blinn of Michigan, and Raymond “Joe” Atkinson and David Atkinson, both of Butler.

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