Joseph Atwater

Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at the Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, 1114 North 6th Street. Rev. Dr. Marvin T. Smith will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at Evans & Browne's Funeral Home , 441 N. Jefferson Ave. on Friday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. The family will be present to greet friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Joseph W. Atwater, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, made his transition on Sunday, November 11, 2012 after spending a beautiful day with his family. Joseph was born to Jeff and Learo (May) Atwater on September 22, 1929 in Jackson, TN. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served during the Korean Conflict. He met and married Cora Reese and from this union four sons were born. Joseph retired from the Grey Iron Foundry and was a member of the UAW Local #668. He was a faithful member of the Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church where he served on the usher board for almost 60 years. He also served with the Heavenly Hands Ministry and wherever else he could be helpful in the church. Joseph’s community activities are too numerous to mention. However, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, United Auto Workers and the Old Timers Club are organizations that were extremely special to him. Joseph was also an avid bowler and fisherman. When he wasn’t throwing strikes in the alley, you could find him fishing on a lake trying to catch, in his words, “anything that bites”. Joseph’s memory will be cherished by his loving wife of 60 years, Cora Atwater; four sons, Clarence (Sherri) Atwater of Baton Rouge, LA, Kenneth Atwater of Minneapolis, MN, Bernard (Kimberly) Atwater of Saginaw, MI and Anthony (Pamela) Atwater of Farmington, MI; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one brother, Charles Atwater of Flint, MI; one sister, Doris (John) Hinton of Saginaw, MI and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Mr. Atwater was preceded in death by his parents, Jeff and Learo Atwater; one brother, Willie B. Hutch; two sisters, Mattie Erwin and Mary Doster and one grandson, Rashad Atwater. Special thanks are extended to the staff of Fresenius Medical Care of Saginaw Riverside for the special care and attention they provided to Joseph.

Joseph Atwater

September 22, 1929 - November 11, 2012