Leighton Chapman Atteberry

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Joe & Diane Barkley on June 24, 2012:

Remembering Leighton -- All of the years as cadets; over 47 years ago, sometimes seem to fade or run together. But Diane and I remember very well the many times we were with Janet and Leighton since graduation. When they were living in England with Exxon, in the late '70s we went to visit them in Cobham, Surry, just outside of London. The house, or rather the "estate" that Exxon had leased for them was very grand. My kids, also about the age of Chris and Tamara, christened Leighton "The Lord of Cobham," which he found very amusing. When I was on a business trip to San Francisco in 1982 my wife was with me. Leighton was there on assignment for Exxon, without Janet. I had to go to a business meeting at night that included dinner. So Leighton very graciously took my wife out to dinner that night while I was at the meeting; sort of a date of old friends. When we were in Germany while they lived in England, they came to visit us. In Heidelberg, Leighton guided us around the town as he relived and revisited places that he had lived and played as a child when his father was stationed in Heidelberg, including the big house on the hill overlooking the Neckar River Valley. Here in Newtown then came to visit us for an Army navy weekend. We enjoyed how well the kids got along on all of those visit. After they moved to Texas, we kept saying that we were going to get together on a trip there, but time got away, as it always seems to. Somehow "getting together again" just does not seem to happen. And then things end too quickly and there is not "getting together, Leighton was always gracious, funny, friendly, sincere; and cheerful; even the last time I talked with him. We too miss him greatly.

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