Bobby Allen Atwell

SALISBURY � Bobby Allen Atwell, 60, passed away Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

Atwell was born in Texas to Margaret Atwell and the late Grady Atwell before the family moved to Rowan County. After graduating from West Rowan High School in 1970, he served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He later served in the N.C. Army National Guard during Operation Desert Storm.

Throughout his professional life Atwell worked in construction at Duke Power before owning and operating a Karate School and then a screen printing/trophy shop in China Grove.

Atwell was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Landis as well as the Eureka Masonic Lodge 283.

Atwell is survived by his wife, Barbara Brown Atwell of Salisbury; mother, Margaret Atwell of Mt. Ulla; two daughters, Ashley Haynes (Nicky) of China Grove and Amber Stanford of Salisbury; step-son, Adrian Parker (Lindsey) of Mooresville; six grandchildren, Brianna, Lauren, Alexis, Markell, Mekhi and Vera; sister, Kathy Peele (Garry) of Yadkinville; two brothers, Brian Atwell (Starr) of Salisbury and Bradley Atwell (Nancy) of Gatlinburg, Tenn.

The family will receive guests at Trinity Lutheran Church in Landis from 2 to 3:45 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013. A celebration of life service will follow at 4 pm with Pastor Jarrod Lanning officiating.

Memorials can be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 108 West Rice Street, Landis, NC 28088 or Bethel Colony of Mercy, 1675 Bethel Colony Road, Lenoir, NC, 28645.