Lofton Atnip, Jr., age 85, passed away at 8:51 a.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2018, at his residence in Murphysboro, Illinois.

Lofton was born on April 13, 1933, in Shelbyville, Tennessee, to Lofton Atnip, Sr. and Mary Kathleen (Moore) Atnip.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and worked as a Civil Engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation. One of the projects that he had worked on was the design for the construction of Interstate 24 in Illinois.

He was an avid Cardinal and University of Kentucky Wildcat fan. He loved birds and he loved collecting things.

Mr. Atnip was a member of Faith Evangelical United Methodist Church in Vergennes.

Lofton especially loved his family and was a very loving and generous man!

He is survived by two daughters Toni Atnip and Kelly Jorgenson, both of Vergennes;

one grandson Zachary Michael Jorgenson of Vergennes;

his special friend of thirty five years, Thelma Earlene Marnati;

and one sister Mattie Ray Wiser of Shelbyville, TN.

He was preceded in death by one brother Fred Avery Atnip and his parents.

There will be A Celebration of the Life of Lofton Atnip, Jr. at the Murphysboro Elk's Lodge on Saturday, September 29, 2018 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.

For more information, please visit www.pettettfuneralhome.com.