Pamela Joan Collin Atkinson

The state of Utah feels a little lonelier today. Pamela J. Atkinson, who radiated love, compassion and friendship, along with a warm hug to all, from her friends experiencing homelessness to governors and senators, received her final “holy nudge” and was called home to her loving Heavenly Father on October 10, 2026 at age 93. Her body finally wore out from her continual love and service to so many, particularly the vulnerable in society, but her lasting impact will live on through the footprints of all she has left behind.

Pamela was born in Bromley, Kent, England on February 9, 1933, the third of five children. Her childhood in London was marked by poverty and hardship. She lived through the air raids of World War II, watched her father gamble away the family’s income, and experienced his eventual abandonment. She knew firsthand what it meant to go without food, stable housing, or even the clothing needed to fit in at school. Thanks to a wonderful mentor in a librarian, Pamela received encouragement to succeed in school, and she quickly learned that education was the key to breaking the poverty cycle. Through her intelligence and dedication, Pamela earned a full scholarship to nursing school at King’s College in London. During her studies, she witnessed historic moments firsthand, including the Great Smog of London, as well as sneaking out from nursing school to be in the crowds at Buckingham Palace on Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation day.

After receiving her nursing degree, many doors were opened to her and she traveled the world, leading to many more adventures along the way. She had a wild notion of working on a sheep farm and shearing sheep in Australia, an idea she’d seen on television! When, surprising only to her, no one would hire her in that industry, she decided to return to her nursing roots. She remembers taking a low-flying plane from mainland Australia to Thursday Island, part of the Torres Strait Islands, and watching the air steward drop mail bags out of the window to people waiting below, as well as seeing plenty of crocodiles along the way! Once there, living in primitive conditions and working at a hospital for Aborigines, she quickly grew to love the people and their culture, even participating in activities like waterskiing, with others in the boat on constant alert for sharks. She said, “You learned to get up the first time and STAY up!”

She traveled all around the world, including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, and Cyprus. An antique store owner she encountered on her travels encouraged her to believe in herself; advice she carried with her throughout her life. She made her way to Philadelphia General Hospital, where, through the help of kind friends, she began learning about American customs, with iced tea being the most shocking to her British soul. She often amused her co-workers when she would use her British terminology, such as asking for a patient to be taken on a trolley to the theater for surgery!

While working in New York City, after her shifts at the hospital, she and her friends would head to nearby Central Park to go horseback riding. Because the horses had been standing around all day, they were full of energy and would gallop and gallop, making for some very thrilling rides! Pamela ended up in San Francisco, where she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, and taught physiology and nursing. There she married her husband William Atkinson (later divorced), and was blessed to become a mom to his two children, Sally and Roger. Her daughter Heather soon joined the family. After receiving her master’s degree from the University of Washington, Pamela then ventured into the world of Hospital Administration, working in Vancouver, Washington; San Diego, California; and Salt Lake City, Utah, where she ended up staying.

All of her incredible accomplishments can be read about online, but the most important thing to know about Pamela is that she embodied charity, the pure love of Christ, in everything she did.

Her days, thoughts, words, and actions all were in the pursuit of making a difference for people; whether it was those experiencing homelessness, the low-income population, refugees, or the vulnerable and downtrodden. She mentored a generation of non-profit leaders and legislators and Utah is so much the better for it. After extremely full days of love and service, including after she “retired,” she would then return home and still somehow have energy to bless her family, friends and neighbors. She talked the talk and walked the walk, leaving a lasting legacy of showing up and making a difference through listening, loving, supporting and uplifting. Her growing-up years were filled with challenges, but she emerged from them filled with so many Christlike traits that could not have been attained in any other way. When Pamela spoke with those facing hardships, her compassion came not just from a desire to help, but from a genuine understanding of what it meant to struggle. Pamela had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel special, cherished, and like one of her most honored friends. She was a true angel in our midst!

Pamela was a member of First Presbyterian Church, and found so much joy in her service as an Elder in regular Sunday worship meetings and special celebrations. It was such a meaningful honor for the church’s “Pamela’s Closet” to be named after her, which provides clothing and hygiene supplies for those in need. We are so grateful to Pastor Jamie White and all of the incredible church members who provided flowers, meals and visits that helped make Pamela’s last days filled with love.

Pamela loved and was so proud of her family, whether it was calling home to her family in England, or having her grandsons and their friends over, for fun treats and sleepovers, or showing up with four dozen bagels on a Saturday morning. Her traditions of Boxing Day and a roast lamb dinner with Yorkshire Pudding on Easter will always live on in our family. We are grateful for how she involved her family in endless service opportunities, and she was the go-to person for Eagle Scout Project ideas in her neighborhood. She was so supportive of all of her grandsons’ events, including dashing from the Utah Legislature in order to make it to a piano recital or a school play. Baby blessings, baptisms, missionary farewells and homecomings, school concerts and programs were always her highest priority. She always showed up with love, praise, generosity, and so much encouragement and pride. We will miss that incredible support, but are grateful for our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and know that she will be a ministering angel for us all and cheer us on from the other side.

She is survived by her younger siblings, Mervyn and Yolanda, her daughter, Sally Lambert, son, Roger (Wendy) Atkinson, and daughter, Heather (Sam) Hooper, as well as grandsons Chase (Audrey) Hooper, Lukas Atkinson, Alex (Sarah) Hooper, Jacob Atkinson, Darius (Kyra) Lambert, Will Hooper, Nate (Becca) Hooper, Luke (Lexie) Hooper, and Thomas Hooper. She was the proud great-grandmother of six, including Penny, Lottie, Henry, Emily, Kennedy, and Andromeda, with two new great-grandsons on their way. She was preceded in death by her siblings John and Yvonne, son-in-law Tom Lambert, and grandsons Jack and Ian Lambert. Oh, what a wonderful reunion it must be!

We are so thankful to the exceptional caregivers that made Pamela’s last few months filled with love, kindness and joy. We express so much gratitude for their brilliant and angelic care, including Monica, Claudia, and the loving caregivers from Emma’s Elderly Home Care (Siu, Lotu, Winnie, Sa, and Uini). Their generous and kind and loving spirits permeated Pamela’s home with so much peace and love during this time.

Also, so many thanks to Pamela’s wonderful friends and neighbors who filled her home with love and friendship. You made her last days bright and joyful as you shared a cup of tea and English Digestive biscuits. Thank you for being her angels!

It would bring Pamela great joy if in lieu of flowers, a donation might be made to any organization that makes a difference in the lives of others. Pamela always said, “Never underestimate the power of caring,” and taught that a compliment, a hug, a smile, or even a can of donated soup can make a huge difference for an individual. Please help her legacy live on through daily acts of love, caring, compassion and service. As she often said, “Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we should remember the poor only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

It would mean so much to Pamela’s family if you would share a favorite funny or meaningful story, memory or photo you have of her at memoriesforpamela@gmail.com

Please join us in saying farewell, for now, to Pamela. There will be a visitation at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 S. on Thursday, October 29th from 6–8 p.m. A memorial service will beheld on Friday, October 30th at First Presbyterian Church, 12 C Street, Salt Lake City, at 11 a.m.

A gathering will be held afterwards at the church for all. There will be a private family burial.

If you’re able to attend the visitation on Thursday, or the service in person on Friday, please wear your favorite color to honor how Pamela made the world brighter. It would make her so happy if you brought new, warm socks to the mortuary or the church to donate to Pamela’s Closet.

Livestream:

The service will be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVRU020D4NY

Parking:

For those coming in person, please give yourself ample time to arrive and find parking.

Street parking in the neighborhood around First Pres is free, but do watch for any blue posted signs for Handicap/Accessible spots. During the service, the city will extend any time-restricted parking spots near the church for your convenience.

There are several parking lots available for your use: please see this video to see exactly where to park: https://youtu.be/Y74yJNyu5NI?si=n0Uw1IJ0IUIhtVMt Where to enter:

There are 3 entrances to First Pres: main front doors facing South Temple Blvd, and two sets of side doors located on C Street. *Please note: the C Street office entrance is wheelchair accessible. First Pres ushers will be onsite to assist guests.

Additional parking can be found at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City.