Dean Dunwody Atkinson III, 94, of Norfolk, Va., died peacefully at his home at The Ballentine in Norfolk, on September 25, 2022. The son of the late D. Dunwody Atkinson and Margaret Dunlap Schuler, he was born in Gadsden, Alabama. Dean was raised in Norfolk, VA, attended Meadowbrook School and The Darling School (Rome, Georgia), The Citadel (Charleston, SC) and Georgia Tech (Atlanta). After short assignment in The US Army, he experienced a medical condition which required a lifetime of treatment. Nevertheless, he worked as an expert boat mechanic in Jupiter and Ponte Vedra, FL and in Norfolk as often as his health allowed.
His passion and innate talent as a sailor in the Hampton Roads region were well known among peers; time and again he was the High Point trophy winner in his Hampton One Design sailboat, Rhapsody #158. When he was a little boy, he and his older neighborhood buddies headquartered The Algonquin Yacht Club in a canvas tent on the sandy point end of North Shore Road. Dean was the self-appointed commodore.
Later in life, he commanded a series of motorboats, all beautifully maintained and named Silver Spray. Dean was a life-time learner, his interests ranged from global currency, to physics, to flowers and 1950’s movie stars. He had an eclectic mind.
Though unmarried, Dean filled his life and heart with love for his sisters, Margaret (Sis) Olsen and Allene Hull, both deceased. He is survived by the youngest of the four Atkinson children, Joan who lives in Norfolk and cared for Dean until his passing. Similar love and affection was shared by his brother-in-law, William S. (Bill) Hull and all his numerous nieces, nephews, and grands, who remember his gentle nature, keen intelligence, broad smile, artistic skill, and proud handshake or effusive hug.
A memorial service is planned at Christ and St. Luke’s Church, on October 7, at 11:00, followed by interment of his ashes in the Atkinson family cemetery in Brunswick, GA. Memorial donations may be made to Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 560 W Olney Road, Norfolk 23507 or The Elizabeth River Project. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com. The family is grateful to his longtime Veteran Administration caregivers, and especially to the kind caregivers at The Ballentine for eighteen years.
Posted in: The Virginian Pilot
Posted on: 2022-09-30
Link to original obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pilotonline/name/dean-atkinson-obituary?id=36641964