Obituary of Ann Atwood

Ann Wooten Atwood passed away peacefully on January 17, 2024 with her loving family at her bedside, age 93. She was born in Bradenton, FL on August 28, 1930, the third child of Sam and Jewell Wooten. She had 2 older sisters, Jane and Alice. Ann attended Ballard Elementary School, Walker Junior High School, and then graduated from Manatee High School in 1949. She was a cheerleader and active in the Original 13 social club.

Ann attended Florida State University and graduated in 1953. She was a member of Chi Omega sorority. One of her formative experiences in college was spending the summer of 1951 working as a waitress at the Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone National Park.

Following college, Ann worked as an elementary school teacher in Palm View, FL, and Pompano Beach, FL, before returning to teach at Ballard Elementary in Bradenton where she worked alongside her mother, Jewell, who was the cafeteria manager at the time. It was during this time of her life that Ann also traveled overseas to teach school at the Army-Air base in Kaiserslauten, Germany, today known as Ramstein Air Base.

In 1959, Ann married Charles W. Atwood, originally from New York City, who had moved to Bradenton in 1952 to work in his family’s citrus business, the Atwood Grapefruit Company. Together, they raised four children - Charles Jr., William, Priscilla, and Thomas - along the shores of Warner West Bayou which was the site of the family home for neary 65 years.

Throughout her life, Ann was active in church and social organizations around Bradenton. She was a lifelong member of Christ Episcopal Church and served on its vestry, taught the 6th grade girls Sunday school class for a decade, was a member of Episcopal Church Women, headed the girls’ junior altar guild and was a member of the adult altar guild, and the Budget Box, the church’s thrift shop.

Ann and Charles were among the original supporters of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School which started in the Christ Church buildings and has since grown into a very successful independent college preparatory school now in buildings adjacent to the church. In the school’s earliest days, she served on its board of directors.

Ann was very active in local social and service clubs. She was a life member of Entre Nous, the Junior League of Bradenton, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Bradenton Girl’s Club (also on their board of directors), the Collectors Club, and the Mam’Selles Girls Service Club. Ann and Charles were also members of the Bradenton Yacht Club and Bradenton Country Club.

Her husband Charles died in 2003. She is survived by her four children, Charles Jr. (Florence) of Pittsburgh, PA; William (Kathleen) of Bradenton; Priscilla (Ted) of St. Petersburg; and Thomas (Faith) of Charlotte, NC; and 8 grandchildren, Erin, Will, Catherine, Sarah, Katie, Thomas, Sam, and Grace. She is also survived by her loving beagle Hunter.

It is hard to sum up a life with just a few words but if one had to choose words to describe Ann and her life, they would be loving and gracious. As a lifelong Bradenton resident, she loved her community, was interested in its continued success, and generously supported the people and organizations which made Bradenton a remarkable home. She had big and loving heart and a supportive word for everyone. She and Charles loved entertaining at their home in Northwest Bradenton, and always looked forward to a week at the Anna Maria Island beaches each summer.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, or VIA Health Partners of Charlotte (Hospice).

Card and memories of Ann can be sent to the family at: Charles Atwood, 605 Glengary Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15215