David Lee Bodenhamer

David Lee Bodenhamer passed away on June 17, 2026, in Atlanta, GA. He was born in Winston-Salem, NC on August 15, 1930, to Hattie Frith and David Carlton Bodenhamer.

Dave graduated from John W. Hanes High School in Winston-Salem, NC in 1948 as the President of the Senior Class and Valedictorian. He was awarded the Montague Medal for having the highest scholastic average of graduating seniors in the city of Winston-Salem. Dave was a proud graduate of Duke University in 1952, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and winner of the Outstanding Student in Accounting Award given by the NC Association of Certified Public Accountants.

Shortly after joining Ernst & Ernst in 1952, he entered the U.S. Army, serving in the Counterintelligence Corps in Germany. In 1954, he rejoined Ernst & Ernst in Winston-Salem and in 1959 he transferred to the newly opened Charlotte office. In 1966 he was admitted to partnership in Ernst & Ernst, returning to the Winston-Salem office in 1968 as managing partner. As a certified public accountant, Dave was active in various professional organizations.

He was President of both the Charlotte Chapter of the National Association of Accountants and the Charlotte Chapter of the NC Association of CPAs. He also served as a National Director of the National Association of Accountants. Dave relocated to Washington, DC in 1978 as the managing partner, where he was very active in various city and community activities such as Boy Scouts of America, Wolf Trap Foundation, 1981 Presidential Inaugural Committee and Project Hope.

He enjoyed travelling with his wife, Peggy and son, David, throughout Europe, as well as attending the Masters Golf Tournament every year. In 1983, Dave was appointed Vice-Chairman and Southeast Regional Managing Partner of Ernst & Young and he and Peggy made their final move to Atlanta, Georgia.

After his retirement in 1990, Dave spent his time traveling with his wife Peggy to Florida each year, as well as spending time at their beach home in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. His family brought great joy to him, especially time spent with his grandsons at Christmas and on summer vacations. Photography was a true passion, and he created beautiful and meaningful photo albums of remembrances for family and friends.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter-in-law, Doris Bodenhamer; two grandsons, William and Michael Bodenhamer; and sister-in-law, Ramona Lewis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in passing by his wife, Peggy Lewis Bodenhamer in 2013 and his son, David Lee Bodenhamer Jr. in 2019.

The family will receive friends from 5:00pm-7:00pm Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek. A graveside service will be held at 11:00am Friday, June 26 at Forsyth Memorial Park with Pastor Doug Klein officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association.