Thomas Van Valkenburgh Atwater died Nov. 21 at his home on Bainbridge Island.

He was born Jan. 8, 1919 in Spokane, to Thomas and Elizabeth Atwater.

While serving in World War II, he married Jean Langston; they made their home in Seattle after the war.

After earning a master of arts degree from the University of Washington, he was recruited as a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University. There he earned a second master’s degree and a Ph.D in economics, then taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology before developing a consulting practice.

Later he became dean of the College of Business at Eastern Washington University and served on the board of directors for North Coast Life and the Spokane Retirement Board for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; sons Samuel Atwater, Rev. Thomas “Tim” Atwater and Eben Atwater; daughter Ann Lovejoy and six grandchildren.

There will be no services. Memorial contributions can be made to the Children’s Fund.