IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Sally Attwater
Sally (DeForest) Attwater, 84, Retired Professor of Dietetics, died Thursday.
Visitation was Monday at Downing and Lahey East Mortuary, Wichita. Because of COVID-19, the funeral service will be private, but a recording will be available after the service at www.dlwichita.com. Reception and celebration of life were Tuesday at Wichita Country Club.
Sally Attwater and her twin brother, Richard, were born in Peabody.
She attended Kansas State University, where she studied to be a dietician. Sally joined the Pi Beta Phi Sorority, where she built many life-long relationships.
After college, she was married to Paul Attwater II in Peabody on Sept. 13, 1958. Paul and Sally went to Indiana where Paul finished his master’s degree, and Sally worked as a dietician.
Later, Sally earned her master’s degree in education from Wichita State University. She was a professor of nutrition at St. Mary School of the Plains nursing school in Wichita. She loved education and working with her students.
After the school closed, she went to work for Wichita Dialysis Center helping patients manage their dietary plans.
Paul and Sally have three children, Sarah, Paul, and Susan.
They lost their eldest daughter, Sarah, in a tragic car accident in 1976. Sarah was a proud thespian at Southeast High School. They have supported the Sarah Awards in her honor for more than 40 years.
Sally loved being around friends and family. She was known for her gatherings around the backyard swimming pool as both mother and grandmother.
Sally loved the holidays and wanted each to be special. She made hosting family dinners look effortless. Her greatest treasure was her family, especially her six grandsons, and recent addition of a new great-grandson.
Everyone who met Sally was touched by her genuine kindness and interest in them. She was a strong advocate for everything she held important, including K-State, her Pi Phis, her church, and most importantly, her family.
Sally fought lung disease and COPD for more than five years. When the time came, she knew she was ready to go. She had given it her best and fought the good fight. She was at peace and ready to see her daughter, Sarah, again in heaven.
Sally believed strongly in her faith and felt the most important thing was to live by the Golden Rule.
She was preceded in death by daughter Sarah Ann Attwater, parents John and Cleo DeForest, and brothers Douglas, Jack, and Richard DeForest.
She is survived by husband Paul Attwater, II, son Paul (and wife Kim) Attwater, III, and daughter Susan (and husband Daniel) Taylor, all of Wichita; brother Charles DeForest of El Dorado, sisters Jean Smith of Dallas, and Linda (and husband Charlie) Long of Alta Vista; grandchildren Patrick Attwater, Nicholas (and Nick Boyd) Attwater, Thomas (and fiancé Molly Moran) Attwater, Joseph Attwater, Sam Taylor, Ryan Taylor; and great-grandson Ian.
Memorials have been established with St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church endowment fund, 7404 E. Killarney Pl., Wichita, KS 67206; or Botanica (funds will be used toward a memorial bench in the gardens), 701 N. Amidon, Wichita, KS 67203.
The family has requested that friends share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com