Obituary of David Elbridge Atwater

David Elbridge "Elb" Atwater, Sr., 83, passed away Friday, September 28, 2012 , in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Elb was born March 15, 1929 in Chapel Hill, and was the son of the late Carney Bennett and Leona Bertha Atwater. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 38 years, Helen Wheeley Atwater. Elb was a 20 year veteran of the United States Air Force, and an active member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Elb enjoyed gardening and going to dinner with family and friends. He is survived by his two children, David Elbridge Atwater, Jr., and his wife Karen, of Durham, and Sheila Atwater Bishop, and her husband, Brian, of Yorktown, Virginia; grandchildren, Meredith Atwater, Darryl Bishop, and his wife, Olga Milgrom, David Elbridge Atwater, III, and Sydney Bishop. He is also survived by two sisters, Bynum Atwater Kirk, and Rochelle Atwater, and his loving nieces and nephews. He is fondly remembered by his "sweetie" of the last 7 years, Leta Ellington. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00pm, on Monday, October 1, at Walker's Funeral Home in Chapel Hill. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 2, at 2:00 pm, at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, 2791 Jones Ferry Road, Pittsboro. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, 2791 Jones Ferry Road, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312. Online condolences may be sent to www.walkersfuneralservice.com