Harold Atwood

Harold S. Atwood PORTSMOUTH - Harold Sears Atwood, 89, died Sept. 23, 2010. Mr. Atwood, a native of Waterville, Maine, graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and attended Georgia Tech before entering the Army as an officer during World War II. He retired from Hoechst-Celanese, formerly Virginia Chemicals, where he was respected internationally for his expertise in sodium hydrosulfite bleaching in the textile and paper industries. He was a member of Churchland Baptist Church and served as treasurer and several times as chairman of the board of deacons. He sat on several municipal committees and was a longtime member of the Portsmouth Kiwanis Club and was a past District lieutenant governor of Kiwanis International. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Frances Agnor Atwood; three children, Gayle A. Channel and husband Warren of Portsmouth, Lawrence Graham Atwood and wife Carol of Lexington, Va., and Beverly Sears A. Beck of Whiteville, N.C. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Warren W. "Chip" Channel Jr. and wife Erin, Bryn Andrew Beck, Lee Graham Atwood and wife Karri, Laura Elizabeth Atwood, Joshua Sears Beck; and three great-grandchildren, Grady and Emmy Channel, and Lucy Atwood. He was predeceased by a grandson, Lawrence Edward "Ned" Channel and son-in-law, Steven Paul "Steve" Beck. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, in Churchland Baptist Church by the Rev. Larry Coleman. A reception at the church will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to Churchland Baptist Church Building Fund, 3031 Churchland Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23321 or to a charity of your choice. Foster Funeral Home, Portsmouth, is assisting the family.