The Rt. Rev. Stanley H. Atkins, retired Bishop of Eau Claire, died Jan. 6 at his home in Oconomowoc, Wis., following a long illness. He was 83.

Bishop Atkins was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, in 1912. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1938 and to the priesthood in 1939 in the Diocese of Durham, and served in the Church of England and the Anglican Church of Canada from 1938 to 1955.

In 1955, he entered the Episcopal Church as rector of St. Paul's Church, Hudson, Wis., and vicar of St. Thomas', New Richmond, in the Diocese of Eau Claire. He remained in those positions until 1961. He was archdeacon of the Diocese of Milwaukee from 1962 to 1969, when he was elected Bishop Coadjutor of Eau Claire. He was consecrated that year and became diocesan bishop the following year, serving until his retirement in 1980.

Bishop Atkins was a deputy to several General Conventions, chaplain to the Western Province of the Community of St. Mary, 1970-76, and a trustee of Nashotah House, where he served as provost in 1983-84, and dean in 1984-85. At the time of his death he was a member of the Living Church Foundation and its board of directors. He was a past president of that board.

"Along with blessed Michael Ramsey, Bishop Atkins is one of my personal heroes," said the Rt. Rev. William C.R. Sheridan, retired Bishop of Northern Indiana. "He taught me by example to be an evangelical catholic."

He is survived by his wife, Maureen, and three children, Paul, Avon, Conn.; Frances Johnson, Kasson, Minn.; and Elizabeth Rude, Eau Claire; and seven grandchildren.