Obituaries

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AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Earl B. Bearden

Dr. Bearden (GA ’52), 88, Madison, Ga., died Nov. 30, 2006.

Dale E. Blackburn

Dr. Blackburn (IL ’76), 64, Harvard, Ill., died April 7, 2007. He practiced at Fox Valley Animal Hospital in Crystal Lake, Ill. Earlier in his career, Dr. Blackburn worked as a relief veterinarian in McHenry County, Ill. He raised and showed Shropshire sheep for more than 30 years, and served as secretary-treasurer and registrar of the American Shropshire Registry Association.

Wilbur S. Bull

Dr. Bull (UP ’50), 91, Watertown, N.Y., died Nov. 16, 2006. He founded Watertown Animal Hospital in 1969. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bull owned practices in New York at Chaumont and Burrville. In retirement, he was active with rabies vaccination clinics in Jefferson County, N.Y.

Dr. Bull served as a meat inspector in the Army Veterinary Corps. Active in civic life, he was the Watertown supervisor from 1960-1966. His wife, Mary; three daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Jefferson County, 425 Washington, Watertown, NY 13601; Town of Watertown Fire Department, 22825 County Road 67, Watertown, NY 13601; Burrville United Church of Christ, 25200 Van Allen Road, Watertown, NY 13601; or Jefferson County SPCA, 25056 Water St., Watertown, NY 13601.

John W. Cable

Dr. Cable (UP ’56), 76, Mechanicsburg, Pa., died May 13, 2007. Prior to retirement in 1980, he worked for the Department of Agriculture. Dr. Cable served in the Air Force Veterinary Corps for 22 years, retiring as a colonel. He was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and a life member of the Pennsylvania VMA. Dr. Cable’s wife, Nancy; a son; and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 1019 Mumma Road, Wormleysburg, PA 17041; or Diabetes Foundation, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

Germille Colmano

Dr. Colmano (BOL ’49), 85, Blacksburg, Va., died Nov. 16, 2006. He was professor emeritus in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the University of Maryland since 1992. Following his move to the United States in 1951 from Italy, Dr. Colmano worked as a project assistant in enzyme biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a biophysicist at the Research Institute for Advanced Study in Baltimore. He began his tenure with Virginia Tech in the Veterinary Science Department of the College of Agriculture in 1962. In 1978, Dr. Colmano became part of the newly forming College of Veterinary Medicine. His research interests included colloidal chemistry and spectral analysis of biosystems. Dr. Colmano’s son and daughter survive him.

John T. Creasey

Dr. Creasey (IL ’06), 27, Canton, Ill., died Jan. 30, 2007. He practiced at the Spoon River Animal Clinic in Canton. Dr. Creasey was a member of the Illinois State VMA, and he was active in the 4-H Club and the National FFA Organization. Memorials may be made to the Bushnell-Prairie City High School Foundation, 845 N. Walnut, Bushnell, IL 61422; or the Dr. John Creasey Memorial Fund, 155 Emmy Road, Macomb, IL 61455.

Arlynn A. Cuthbertson

Dr. Cuthbertson (CAL ’53), 84, Elko, Nev., died March 31, 2007. He was the founder of Elko Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Cuthbertson served on the Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for four years and was track veterinarian at the Elko County Fair race meet into the 1990s. He also served on the Nevada State Board of Health. Dr. Cuthbertson taught classes at Northern Nevada Community College and chaired the Elko Hospital Board. A veteran of World War II, he served in the Army. Dr. Cuthbertson attained the rank of 2nd lieutenant.

His wife, Carol; a son; and four daughters survive him. Dr. Cuthbertson’s son, Dr. Alan A. Cuthbertson III (ROS ’89), is a veterinarian in Lamoille, Nev. Memorials may be made to the Community Cares Program, Elko Veterinary Clinic, 1850 Lamoille Highway, Elko, NV 89801.

Roy H. De Motte

Dr. De Motte (OSU ’52), 82, Odon, Ind., died Nov. 30, 2006. Prior to retirement in 1990, he owned Odon Veterinary Clinic for 38 years. Dr. De Motte was an Army veteran of World War II. His two sons survive him. Memorials may be made to The Barn, c/o Odon First Christian Church, Odon, IN 47562.

Kenneth D. Funk

Dr. Funk (TEX ’64), 67, Blanco, Texas, died Nov. 19, 2006.

Donald B. Gisler

Dr. Gisler (OSU ’55), 77, Pahrump, Nev., died Dec. 13, 2006. From 1971 until retirement in 1991, he practiced at Countryside Animal Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio. Prior to that, Dr. Gisler was a member of the veterinary faculty at The Ohio State University. During that time, he also coordinated laboratory animal technology for the Columbus Technical Institute in cooperation with OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

A retired Air Force colonel, Dr. Gisler served early in his career as veterinarian in charge of the primate colony and space research of NASA’s project “Little Joe” on the Mercury Space Program. He also directed the Veterinary Medical Division of the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. In 1966, Dr. Gisler received an Air Force commendation medal for his contributions. His wife, Denise; a daughter; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to the Sierra County Humane Society Inc., P.O. Box 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Roy H. Hughes

Dr. Hughes (MID ’47), 86, Tequesta, Fla., died May 5, 2007. Prior to retirement in 1980, he owned a small animal clinic in Puerto Rico. Earlier, Dr. Hughes was in mixed practice in Arkansas at Hot Springs and Fort Smith. During his career, he also co-established an artificial insemination clinic in Cuba and helped eradicate foot-and-mouth disease in Mexico. Dr. Hughes is survived by his wife, Joyce; a son; and four stepchildren. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 E. Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407.

Gwen H. Lowitt

Dr. Lowitt (UP ’94), 39, New York, died May 6, 2007. A relief veterinarian, she practiced part time at Abingdon Square Veterinary Clinic in New York. Earlier in her career, Dr. Lowitt served as staff veterinarian at Oradell Animal Hospital in Oradell, N.J. Her husband, Gary, survives her. Dr. Lowitt’s father, Dr. Fred Fernich (UP ’63), is a retired veterinarian in Hauppauge, N.Y. Memorials may be made to the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce St., Department 171E, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

John A. McIlhattan

Dr. McIlhattan (WSU ’70), 61, Bozeman, Mont., died May 6, 2007. He owned Valley View Veterinary Hospital, a mixed practice in Bozeman, for more than 30 years. Earlier in his career, Dr. McIlhattan practiced in British Columbia, Canada, and Butte, Mont. In 2006, he was inducted into the Montana Draft Horse Teamster’s Hall of Fame. Dr. McIlhattan’s son survives him. Memorials may be made to the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 11390, Bozeman, MT 59719; or Montana Draft Horse Association, c/o Donna Reimer, Secretary-Treasurer, 51 Horse Ranch Road, Roy, MT 59471.

Clifford L. Walker

Dr. Walker (KSU ’82), 58, Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, died May 28, 2007. A colonel in the Army Veterinary Corps, he was commander of the U.S. Army Veterinary Command at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Dr. Walker began his military career with the Air Force in 1972. In 1976, he moved to the Air Force Reserve, flying F4 fighter jets. After receiving his DVM degree, Dr. Walker owned a practice in Austin, Texas, before joining the Army Veterinary Corps in 1988.

His assignments included serving as deputy commander of the Southern European Veterinary Detachment Europe, and commander of the 34th medical detachment in Vicenza, Italy; the Northern California Veterinary Service Support District; the Southern California District Veterinary Command; and the Great Plains Regional Veterinary Command. He also served in Kolding, Denmark, and as Coalition Forces Land Component command veterinarian of Central Command.

Dr. Walker was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. He received several honors, including the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Forces Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal. Dr. Walker was also the recipient of Air Force Navigator Wings and the Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Expeditionary Medal, and National Defense Medal. Dr. Walker’s wife, Mette; three daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials toward a college fund for his children may be made to Frost Bank, 10215 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78230.


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