Bruce David Atkinson

MILTON, Ga. – Bruce David Atkinson of Milton, Ga., passed away Feb. 10, 2025, after a long illness.

Born in 1940, in Waldoboro, Maine to Ethel (Benner) Atkinson and George Baldwin Atkinson of Nobleboro, Bruce was a 1958 graduate of Waldoboro High School. In 1960, he married Virginia Ann Burns of Friendship. Their marriage produced two children, Scott, of Royal Oak, Mich., and the late Trevor, formerly of Alpharetta, Ga.

In 1960, Bruce followed “Ginny” to GTE Sylvania in Waldoboro. In 1966, Bruce, Ginny, and Scott relocated as Bruce’s product line moved to a new facility in Standish. This would be Bruce’s life’s work. In 1994, GTE spun off the Control Devices business to private equity firm Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney and Co., and Bruce became chief executive officer. Later that year, Control Devices went public, trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Control Devices was later acquired by U.K. firm, First Technology PLC. Bruce retired from HKW in 2015.

In 1973, Bruce married Bettina Rae Berry of Gorham, daughter of Ethel Berry and James Berry of Gorham. Tina was a loving and supportive wife who gave birth to daughter, Lyn-Ann. Bruce and Tina over the years enjoyed dances, snowmobiling, travel by motorhome, attending NASCAR races, and then, later in life, retirement in Florida and Georgia with children and grandchildren.

Bruce is survived by Tina; Scott, Lyn-Ann; and grandchildren, Avery and Dylan of Alpharetta, Ga.

A special note goes out to Dalton Genthner, formerly of Waldoboro, now of Scarborough, and his family. Bruce enjoyed telling his family of the start of his friendship with Dalton, from 6th grade Little League. Dalton was Best Man, golf buddy, and Sebago Lake boat captain. Bruce could have found no better friend.