Joe Walton Atherton, 67, of Gwynn’s Island, died May 25, 2023.

He was born in Kentucky and eventually moved to Towson, Maryland. He served as a police officer in Lynchburg, as well as Chesterfield County, Va., and was a financial planner prior to cofounding his business, Accident Reconstruction Specialists. He was president of the business, later known as Accident Technology Incorporated, until his retirement.

While living in Richmond, he served as an elder at Seventh Street and, later, Bon Air Christian Church. He was a dog trainer/handler with K9 Alert Search and Rescue Dogs. After moving to Gwynn’s Island, he was a deacon at Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church and was secretary of the Gwynn’s Island Civic League. In 2021, he founded the Gwynn’s Island Civic League Foundation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Jean Atherton, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
Survivors include his wife, Frances; his children, Rob and Emily; his sister, Jenny Hollinger.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Gwynn’s Island Civic League gazebo across from Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church at 11 a.m. July 8. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gwynn’s Island Civic League (specify Joe Atherton memorial), P.O. Box 313, Gwynn, Va. 23066 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.