Obituaries

Published on
information-circle This article is more than 3 years old

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

James B. Ashcraft

Dr. Ashcraft (OSU ’45), 82, Centennial, Colo., died Sept. 18, 2006.

Donald W. Bouland

Dr. Bouland (AUB ’64), 66, Mount Vernon, Ill., died Sept. 27, 2006. He owned Jefferson Animal Clinic, a practice he established in Mount Vernon in 1970. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bouland practiced in Illinois at Nashville and Albion, and in Louisville, Ky. He was a member of the Illinois State VMA. Dr. Bouland served in the Army for two years. His wife, Melissa; a son; and a daughter survive him.

Robert I. Challoner

Dr. Challoner (ISU ’60), 80, Oshkosh, Wis., died Jan. 31, 2007. Prior to retirement in 1986, he practiced in the Oshkosh area. Early in his career, Dr. Challoner practiced in Richland Center, Wis. His wife, Sandra; a daughter; and two sons survive him.

Percy A. Clayton Jr.

Dr. Clayton (TEX ’43), 86, Memphis, Tenn., died Feb. 23, 2007. He retired in 1987 as president of P.A. Clayton Company, a wholesale grocery business. Early in his career, Dr. Clayton practiced in Holly Springs, Miss. He served as a commissioner of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and owned a tree farm in Potts Camp, Miss., for 23 years. Dr. Clayton was a past president of the Tennessee Wholesale Grocers Association and a board member of the Memphis Boys Town and Memphis Food Bank. His wife, Voorhies; three daughters; and a son survive him.

Shirley L. Davis

Dr. Davis (KSU ’41), 89, Elkhorn, Neb., died Dec. 30, 2006. From 1944 until retirement in 1982, he practiced at Red Oak Veterinary Clinic in Red Oak, Iowa. Earlier in his career, Dr. Davis worked as a federal inspector for two years in Storm Lake, Iowa, and practiced in Butler, Mo., for a year. He was a member of the Iowa and Southwest Iowa VMAs. Dr. Davis’ wife, Joyce; two daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 600 E. Hammond St., Red Oak, IA 51566; or Red Oak Fire & Rescue, Red Oak, IA 51566.

Ibrahim I. Dib

Dr. Dib (VI ’79), 63, Vallejo, Calif., died Sept. 16, 2006. He owned Glen Cove Animal Hospital in Vallejo. Dr. Dib was a member of the California VMA.

Stanley W. Epperson

Dr. Epperson (PUR ’77), 53, Evansville, Ind., died Feb. 24, 2007. From 1988 until retirement in 2005, he owned Epperson Veterinary Services in Evansville. Earlier, Dr. Epperson practiced at Animal Medical Services, a practice he co-established in Evansville. During his career, he also served as veterinarian for the Mesker Park Zoo & Botanical Garden for more than 20 years. Dr. Epperson’s wife, Kim, survives him.

Patrick D. Gorman

Dr. Gorman (COR ’89), 45, Carmel, N.Y., died Jan. 19, 2007. He practiced at Somers Animal Hospital in Somers, N.Y., and Quarry Ridge Animal Hospital in Ridgefield, Conn. Dr. Gorman was a member of the New York State VMS and the Westchester Rockland VMA. His daughter survives him. Memorials may be made to the Shane Sophia Gorman Scholarship Fund, c/o Thomas N. Gorman, 21 Cliff Drive, Bayville, NY 11709.

Jean Holzworth

Dr. Holzworth (COR ’50), 91, New Preston Marble Dale, Conn., died Jan. 13, 2007. From 1951-1986, she was a member of the clinical staff at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston. Known for her expertise in feline medicine, Dr. Holzworth authored the textbook “Diseases of the Cat: Medicine and Surgery.” She also published studies on feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonitis, hyperthyroidism, and other disorders of cats in JAVMA and other publications.

Dr. Holzworth was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a member of the Massachusetts and Boston VMAs. Following graduation, she received the Borden Award. In 1960, Dr. Holzworth was the recipient of the American Animal Hospital Association’s Veterinarian of the Year “Fido” Award, given for work in feline medicine. She received the Association for Women Veterinarians’ Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1991.

Memorials may be made to the Massachusetts SPCA, 350 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130; Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010; or Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853.

Robert A. Lopez

Dr. Lopez (COR ’45), 84, Westport, N.Y., died March 12, 2007. He owned practices in New York at Westport, Lake Placid, and Saranac Lake. Until 1989, Dr. Lopez also served as president and consulting veterinarian for the North County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which he founded in 1967. He volunteered his services in the Dominican Republic for Heifer International and assisted in legislative efforts to improve horse transportation standards.

Dr. Lopez was a past president of the New York State VMS and a past director of the New York State Conservation Council. He was active in several organizations, including The Westport Fish and Game Club, Essex County Fish and Game League, and Westport Chamber of Commerce. A marathon runner, Dr. Lopez was appointed to the New York State Winter Sports Education Trust and served as one of 52 torchbearers in the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics.

A veteran of the Korean War, he served in the Air Force as chief of preventive medicine and veterinary services. Dr. Lopez attained the rank of captain and received Paratrooper Wings, a Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. His wife, Marjorie; seven daughters; and six sons survive him. Memorials may be made to High Peaks Hospice, P.O. Box 840, Saranac Lake, NY 12983; or Elizabethtown Community Hospital, 75 Park St., P.O. Box 277, Elizabethtown, NY 12932.

Michael A. O’Boyle

Dr. O’Boyle (MSU ’70), 61, Phoenix, died Jan. 27, 2007. A relief veterinarian at the time of his death, he previously owned a practice in Phoenix. Earlier in his career, Dr. O’Boyle practiced in New Jersey. His wife, Kristina, and a son survive him.

Edward J. Rackowski

Dr. Rackowski (COR ’52), 81, Vero Beach, Fla., died Jan. 26, 2007. Prior to retirement in 2006, he owned a small animal clinic and consulting practice in Vero Beach. Earlier, Dr. Rackowski was in mixed practice in Amsterdam, N.Y., for 30 years. During his career, he also worked for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Division of Animal Industry in disease control and preventive medicine.

Dr. Rackowski was a member of the New York State VMS, Capital District VMS, Florida VMA, South Florida VMA, and North American Veterinary Conference. He was also a member of the Rotary Club. A World War II veteran of what is now known as the United States Pacific Air Force, he served in the South Pacific theater and Japan, attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant. Dr. Rackowski later served in the Air Force Reserve for 15 years.

His wife, Janice; two daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Student Education Fund, Ithaca, NY 14853; Our Lady of Guadalupe R.C. Church, Route 512, Fellsmere, FL 32948; Hospice of VNA, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960; or American Cancer Society, 3375 20th St., Suite 100, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

Arle Schneider

Dr. Schneider (MSU ’42), 87, Vicksburg, Mich., died Feb. 6, 2007. He practiced in Vicksburg for 54 years. Dr. Schneider was a life member and past board member of the Michigan VMA. He was also a charter member of the Kalamazoo Academy of Veterinary Medicine and the Southwestern Michigan VMA.

Dr. Schneider served in the Army Veterinary Corps for two years. He was past president of the Vicksburg School Board and Vicksburg Rotary Club. Dr. Schneider is survived by his wife, Margaret, and two daughters. Memorials may be made to the Vicksburg Community Schools Foundation, Attn: Deb Vliek, 301 S. Kalamazoo, Vicksburg, MI 49097.

Louis J. Serrano

Dr. Serrano (AUB ’61), 75, Winston-Salem, N.C., died March 4, 2007. Known for his expertise in laboratory animal medicine, he was a staff member at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City from 1983 until retirement in 1995. Prior to that, Dr. Serrano served as director of animal sciences for the National Institutes of Health at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. Early in his career, he worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratories in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Dr. Serrano was a charter member and a past president of the Anderson County (Tennessee) Health Council. In retirement, he was active with the Forsyth County (North Carolina) Public Health Council. Dr. Serrano served in the Navy from 1946-1949. His wife, Marjorie; a daughter; and two sons survive him. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368.

Herbert G. Stoenner

Dr. Stoenner (ISU ’43), 87, Hamilton, Mont., died March 2, 2007. He retired in 1981 as director of Rocky Mountain Laboratories, a research facility of the United States Public Health Service’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Hamilton. Following graduation, Dr. Stoenner was commissioned as a captain in the Army 10th Mountain Infantry. He served during World War II in the Italian theater and received the Bronze Star Medal. After the war, Dr. Stoenner worked for the USPHS in Salt Lake City. He joined Rocky Mountain Laboratories in 1949, becoming director in 1963. Dr. Stoenner conducted research on several zoonotic diseases, including leptospirosis, Q fever, and brucellosis.

In 1971, he received the USPHS Distinguished Service Medal, the highest honor bestowed on a commissioned officer. Dr. Stoenner was the recipient of what is now known as the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society’s Karl F. Meyer-James H. Steele Gold Head Cane Award in 1974. He was a member of the Lions Club and helped organize retirement living options for the senior citizens of Hamilton. Dr. Stoenner’s wife, Madge; a son; and three daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; or The Lupus Foundation of America, P.O. Box 631047, Baltimore, MD 21263.

William A. Truban

Dr. Truban (UP ’53), 82, Woodstock, Va., died Feb. 3, 2007. He was the founder of Shenandoah Animal Hospital in Woodstock. Dr. Truban served as state senator from the 27th district of Virginia from 1971-1992. During that time, he was senate minority leader for 16 years. A past president of the Virginia and Northern Virginia VMAs, Dr. Truban helped establish the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. He was past chair of the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine and served on the Virginia Board of Health Professions.

Dr. Truban received several honors, including the Virginia Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1972, the Professional of the Year Award from the Virginia Association of Professions and the Commonwealth Award from James Madison University in 1991, the Citizen of the Year Award from the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce in 1992, and the President’s Award for Community Service from Shenandoah University in 1993. Active in civic life, he was a past president of the Woodstock Rotary Club, served on the board of directors of the Shenandoah Historical Society, and was a member of the advisory board of the State Legislative Leadership Foundation.

A World War II veteran of the Army Air Force, Dr. Truban served in the Burma theater and received three bronze stars. He was a member of the American Legion. Dr. Truban is survived by his wife, Mildred; five sons; and a daughter. His sons, Drs. David H. Truban (VMR ’84) and Thomas S. Truban (VMR ’86), are veterinarians in Mount Airy, N.C., and Woodstock, respectively. Memorials may be made to Woodstock United Methodist Church, 156 S. Muhlenburg St., Woodstock, VA 22664; Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061; or Shenandoah County Animal Shelter, 268 Landfill Road, Edinburg, VA 22824.

Eric Westheimer

Dr. Westheimer (CAL ’75), 56, Goleta, Calif., died Jan. 14, 2007. He owned Valley Animal Hospital in Goleta for 30 years. Dr. Westheimer’s wife, Karen; a son; and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368; or Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202.


Memorial contributions to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation are gratefully accepted. When making such contributions, please indicate the name and address of the individual who should receive notification of your donation. Contact:

AVMF
Department 20-1122
P.O. Box 5940
Carol Stream, IL 60197-5940
www.avmf.org