IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Virginia Rose
Sullivan Atwater
March 22, 1923 – April 7, 2016
Obituary
Virginia Rose Sullivan Atwater, better known as Gee or GiGi, died on April 7, 2016.
She was born March 22, 1923 in Washington D.C., the first child of Pauline Louise Davis Sullivan and Leo Daniel Miller Sullivan. Reared in Takoma Park, MD, she attended Central High School and Theodore Roosevelt Night School in D.C.
She married a dashing Marine Corps night fighter pilot, 2nd Lt. William Langworthy Atwater, Jr., (Bill) who then left to fight WWII in the Pacific. Throughout Bill's career, Gee was most supportive. While he fought wars in Korea and Vietnam, Gee single-handedly maintained the household, nurtured the children and prayed for Bill's safe return. When Bill commanded a squadron aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) deployed to the Mediterranean, Gee followed the carrier from port to port. On the home front, Gee volunteered as a Gray Lady, actively engaged in committee work in numerous Officers' Wives' Clubs and served as President of the Joint Officers' Wives' Club of London, England and President of the Chief of Naval Training Officers' Wives' Club at NAS Pensacola. As Bill rose to the rank of Colonel, Gee attended and hosted social affairs in the U.S. and abroad, entertaining high ranking military officials and socializing with princes, lords, ladies, and other notables.
In 1974, Gee launched GiGi of Seville Square, a ladies' upscale boutique in the Historic District of Pensacola. Traveling to apparel marts in New York City, Atlanta, Dallas and the Far East, she made all buying decisions, maintained the shop successfully, and sold it in 1986.
Married for more than 50 years, Gee was widowed in Dec. 1994. She remained in Pensacola for the rest of her life.
She is survived in Pensacola by daughters, Karen Kea Hessler (Dennis) and Carol Ann Atwater, Gee's caregiver since Bill's death; and in Reston, VA, by son, William Langworthy Atwater III (Cynthia) and three grandsons, Darrick William Carter Atwater, Brandon Worthy Carter Atwater and Justin Langworthy Carter Atwater. Gee is also survived by her siblings, Norma Catherine Cottman and John Leo Sullivan (Loretta) as well as cousin, James Marion Davis (Betty); other cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held 2pm until a Memorial Service to begin at 3pm, Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., Pensacola. Interment and Committal Service will held in Arlington, VA's Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, Gee will join Bill at Arlington National Cemetery at a date yet to be determined.
She was born March 22, 1923 in Washington D.C., the first child of Pauline Louise Davis Sullivan and Leo Daniel Miller Sullivan. Reared in Takoma Park, MD, she attended Central High School and Theodore Roosevelt Night School in D.C.
She married a dashing Marine Corps night fighter pilot, 2nd Lt. William Langworthy Atwater, Jr., (Bill) who then left to fight WWII in the Pacific. Throughout Bill's career, Gee was most supportive. While he fought wars in Korea and Vietnam, Gee single-handedly maintained the household, nurtured the children and prayed for Bill's safe return. When Bill commanded a squadron aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) deployed to the Mediterranean, Gee followed the carrier from port to port. On the home front, Gee volunteered as a Gray Lady, actively engaged in committee work in numerous Officers' Wives' Clubs and served as President of the Joint Officers' Wives' Club of London, England and President of the Chief of Naval Training Officers' Wives' Club at NAS Pensacola. As Bill rose to the rank of Colonel, Gee attended and hosted social affairs in the U.S. and abroad, entertaining high ranking military officials and socializing with princes, lords, ladies, and other notables.
In 1974, Gee launched GiGi of Seville Square, a ladies' upscale boutique in the Historic District of Pensacola. Traveling to apparel marts in New York City, Atlanta, Dallas and the Far East, she made all buying decisions, maintained the shop successfully, and sold it in 1986.
Married for more than 50 years, Gee was widowed in Dec. 1994. She remained in Pensacola for the rest of her life.
She is survived in Pensacola by daughters, Karen Kea Hessler (Dennis) and Carol Ann Atwater, Gee's caregiver since Bill's death; and in Reston, VA, by son, William Langworthy Atwater III (Cynthia) and three grandsons, Darrick William Carter Atwater, Brandon Worthy Carter Atwater and Justin Langworthy Carter Atwater. Gee is also survived by her siblings, Norma Catherine Cottman and John Leo Sullivan (Loretta) as well as cousin, James Marion Davis (Betty); other cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held 2pm until a Memorial Service to begin at 3pm, Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., Pensacola. Interment and Committal Service will held in Arlington, VA's Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, Gee will join Bill at Arlington National Cemetery at a date yet to be determined.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia Rose Sullivan Atwater, please visit our flower store.
Services
Memorial Visitation
April
19
Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Celebration of Life Service
April
19
Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel
Starts at 3:00 pm
Committal Service
Virginia Rose Sullivan Atwater's Guestbook
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