VAN ATTA

Elsie Rawls Van Atta, 91, a resident of Bogalusa, died Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington.

A native of Washington Parish, she was born in Pine on May 13, 1922, the daughter of Christopher Columbus Rawls and Mary Breland Rawls. She was a longtime resident of New Orleans before moving back to Bogalusa.

She is survived by a daughter, Paulette Van Atta of Plano, Texas; a daughter and son-in-law, Cathy Van Atta (Doug) Hounshell of Berkeley, Calif; five grandchildren, Rebecca Rowbatham, and Aaron Rowbatham, both of Austin, Texas, Paul Hounshell of San Ramon, Calif., and Jennifer Hounshell and Elizabeth Hounshell, both of San Francisco; three great-grandchildren, William Rowbatham, Zachary Hounshell and Arwen Hounshell; and a sister, Dorothy Milton of Bogalusa.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, Paul Edward Van Atta; three brothers, Elmer Rawls, Emmett Rawls and Virgil Rawls; two sisters, Ruby Rawls Crain and Margie Rawls Sorrell; and a son-in-law, Capt. Kim Rowbatham.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home from 5:30 – 8 p.m., and will continue on Thursday from 1 p.m. until time for the funeral service at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Brent King officiating. Interment will follow at Hillview Memorial Gardens on Spring Valley Road in Bogalusa.

Active pallbearers are Aaron Rowbatham, Paul Hounshell, Blake Lloyd, Doug Hounshell, Alex Sigal and Chris Lloyd.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Pine Missionary Baptist Church or to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

To view and sign the register book, visit www.pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.