Robert Battle

Family-Placed Death Notice

BATTLE, Robert Robert W. Battle of Big Canoe, Georgia passed away December 30th, 2011. Born July 25, 1922 in Rome, Georgia, he was a graduate of Emory University with BA and MA degrees. During World War II he was a Naval officer serving three years at sea in the Pacific and participating in five island invasions. His business career began in the advertising department of The Atlanta Journal. He then joined Minute Maid Corporation in 1949. He was Southeast Regional Manager of that company in 1958 when he resigned to form his food brokerage business in Atlanta. He retired in 1987. His long association with Emory included serving as Assistant to the Dean of Men, President of the Atlanta Area Emory Club, President of the National Association of Emory Alumni, and Chairman of the Board of Visitors. He was a member of the Chi Phi and ODK fraternities. He was an active Kiwanian and served as president of the Northside Atlanta Kiwanis Club. He was a founding member of Cherokee Town & Country Club and served on its Governing Board. Following his retirement he moved to Big Canoe where he resided until his death. At Big Canoe he served on the Board of the Homeowners Association, as Chairman of Big Canoe's Long Range Planning Committee, and was for nine years editor of the Big Canoe newspaper, SMOKE SIGNALS. He was the recipient of the Big Canoe 2001 Outstanding Service Award given for exemplary volunteer service to the community. An Episcopalian, he was a member of St. Luke's Church in Atlanta where he was the first Chairman of the Associate Vestry, a senior vestryman, and for 25 years a member of St. Luke's choir. At Big Canoe he was a member of Big Canoe Chapel where he was a member of the choir and served on the Long Range Planning Committee and as Chairman of the Chapel Board of Trustees. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Katharine Battle, and is survived by his wife of 7 years, Jeanne McCord Battle; his three children Robert W. Battle, Jr. (and wife, Rebecca); Patricia Battle White (and husband Stephen); Katharine Battle; and his granddaughter Lindsey Conway (and husband Barry Matthew Conway), all of Atlanta; and his two stepsons Dr. David McCord of Cullowhee, NC and Kenneth McCord of Brunswick, GA. He was highly regarded and loved by all who knew him, a devoted husband and father, a caring and dependable gentleman in every way. He possessed a keen mind and wit and was deeply committed to his activities and to his circle of friends and family. A memorial service will be held at Big Canoe Chapel Thursday, January 5th at 2:00, Dr. James McCormick officiating. At a Iater date an interment of ashes service will be held at the Columbarium of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends Tuesday, Jan. 3 from 5-7 pm at H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Hospice Atlanta, Emory University Alumni Fund or Big Canoe Chapel.