Walter B. Elcock Jr.

Walter Benjamin Elcock, Jr., 90, died on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, in Atlanta. He was born in Atlanta on August 11, 1920, on Inman Circle to Walter B. Elcock and Nancy Pendleton Elcock. Walter and his parents left Atlanta in 1925 and moved to New York City where they lived until 1938 when they returned to Atlanta. Walter attended St. Bernard’s School in NYC. His secondary school education culminated with graduation from St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH and one year at Boys’ High in Atlanta where he was reacquainted with his Atlanta friends. Walter went on to receive his college degree from Dartmouth in 1942, after which he joined the U.S. Navy as an aviator. He saw action in the Pacific theatre and received two Distinguished Flying Cross Medals. After a distinctive Naval career, Walter came back to Atlanta and entered the business world. In Atlanta, he met and courted Mary Jessie Strickland, the daughter of Robert and Jessie Dickey Strickland. Walter and Jessie were married on September 7, 1946. His principal business was insurance, which took him and his family from Atlanta to California in 1960 and then on to Greensboro, NC in the mid-60’s. They also lived in Greenwich, CT, Los Angeles and New York City. Walter was the President and CEO of Piedmont Management Company until his retirement in 1982. He and his wife, Jessie, retired to Big Canoe, GA, where he was active in raising money for the Big Canoe Chapel. In 2009, the Elcocks moved back to Atlanta, taking up residence at St. Anne’s Terrace. He was a life member of both the Piedmont Driving Club and the Capital City Club. He was a former member of Peachtree Golf Club, Greensboro Country Club, Greenwich Country Club and Los Angeles Country Club. Walter was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jessie Strickland Elcock; son Walter B. Elcock III and his wife Laura of San Francisco, CA; daughters Jessie Elcock Smith and her husband Garrett of Atlanta; Nancy Pendleton Elcock of Wilton, NH; and Claire Elcock Banks and her husband Bill of Decatur, GA. Six grandchildren: Robert Vance Brawley III, Hilah Elcock Schutt, Hunter Pendleton Brawley, Catherine Elcock Schwartz, Jessie Strickland Smith, and Julia Bowles Banks. And three great grandchildren: Jasper Munro Schutt, Elsa Reeve Schutt, and Luke Kitchens Schutt. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Big Canoe Chapel at 10455 Big Canoe, Big Canoe, GA 30143-5125. Private family burial will take place on Saturday.