Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

James K. Bratton

Dr. Bratton (Ohio State ’52), 96, Columbus, Ohio, died Nov. 28, 2016. A mixed animal veterinarian, he co-owned Athens Veterinary Hospital in Athens, Ohio, with his brother-in-law, the late Dr. Marvin Phillips, from 1952-1992. Dr. Bratton was a member of the Ohio VMA. He served on the Athens County Board of Health for 30 years, also serving several years on the Beacon School Board and O’Bleness Memorial Hospital Board.

Dr. Bratton’s wife, Martha; two sons; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 9 N. College St., Athens, OH 45701; Worthington Christian Village, 165 Highbluffs Blvd., Columbus, OH 43235; or Kobacker House, 800 McConnell Drive, Columbus, OH 43214.

Louis W. Cronin

Dr. Cronin (Kansas State ’75), 69, Dwight, Illinois, died Nov. 23, 2016. During his 40-year career, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Illinois at the Dwight Veterinary Clinic in Dwight, Lakewood and Pine Bluff animal hospitals in Morris, and Skinner Veterinary Clinic in Wilmington.

Dr. Cronin also volunteered with Guardian Angel Basset Rescue and Livingston County Humane Society. He was a member of the Illinois State VMA. Dr. Cronin was a past president of the Dwight Chamber of Commerce and served on its economic development committee. He was also a past president of the Rotary Club of Dwight and was active with the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.

Dr. Cronin is survived by his wife, Lynne; two sons and a daughter; and six grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 326 W. Chippewa St., Dwight, IL 60420; Guardian Angel Basset Rescue, 413 W. Waupansie St., Dwight, IL 60420; Livingston County Humane Society, 21179 N. 1358 East Road, Pontiac, IL 61764; or National Parks Conservation Association, Attn: Membership Department, 777 6th St. NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001.

David F. Drake

Dr. Drake (Colorado State ’68), 71, Henderson, Nevada, died Sept. 17, 2016. He co-owned A Cat Hospital and St. Francis Animal Hospital in Las Vegas with his wife, Dr. Trish Auge (Oklahoma State ’83). Dr. Drake also served as a consultant and was involved in practice sales.

Following graduation, he served three years in Vietnam with the Air Force. Dr. Drake subsequently worked in San Jose, California, before moving to Massachusetts, where he owned Driftway Animal Hospital in Scituate, and a small animal emergency hospital in Marshfield.

He is survived by his wife, a son, and two daughters. Dr. Drake’s son, Remington Drake, is a third-year student at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Larry W. Edwards

Dr. Edwards (Oklahoma State ’65), 75, Sherman, Texas, died Oct. 14, 2016. He owned a small animal practice in Sherman from 1965 until retirement in 2014.

Dr. Edwards is survived by his wife, Kristy; a daughter and three stepchildren; and four grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Sherman Bible Church, 2515 W. Lamberth Road, Sherman, TX 75092, or East-West Ministries, 2001 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 300, Plano, TX 75075.

Leo F. Eldridge

Dr. Eldridge (Missouri ’68), 77, Barnhart, Missouri, died July 31, 2016. He was an environmental veterinarian. Dr. Eldridge is survived by his wife, Dee Anne; 10 children; and 12 grandchildren.

Fred R. Guenther

Dr. Guenther (Pennsylvania ’52), 90, Newtown, Pennsylvania, died Nov. 25, 2016. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned Newtown Veterinary Hospital for 40 years. Dr. Guenther was a past president of the Pennsylvania VMA. He served in the Army during World War II. Dr. Guenther was a member of the Newtown Exchange Club and Newtown Reliance Organization.

He is survived by his wife, Ruthe; four sons and a daughter; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Newtown Presbyterian Church-Historical Church Committee, 25 North Chancellor St., Newtown, PA 18940.

Taka Kitashima

Dr. Kitashima (Colorado State ’60), 87, Denver, died Sept. 12, 2016. Following graduation, he worked for the Department of Agriculture for several years. Dr. Kitashima later practiced small animal medicine in Denver, focusing on avian medicine.

He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. Dr. Kitashima’s wife, Jean; three children; and five grandchildren survive him.

Gordon E. Layton

Dr. Layton (Cornell ’56), 84, Paris, Kentucky, died Aug. 28, 2016. He practiced equine medicine in central Kentucky from 1956 until retirement in 2008. Dr. Layton also co-founded Loch Lea Farm in Paris, where he bred Thoroughbreds. He was a former member of the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners and helped establish and served as founding president of the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association. Dr. Layton was a lifetime member of the Kentucky VMA and served on its foundation. In 2000, he received the KVMA Distinguished Service Award.

Active in the community, Dr. Layton served on the board of directors of the Paris-Bourbon County YMCA and was a member of the Bourbon County Extension Service Board. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; a daughter and two sons; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090, or Hopewell Museum, 800 Pleasant St., Paris, KY 40361.

James R. McCoy

Dr. McCoy (Kansas State ’69), 78, Clearwater, Kansas, died Oct. 6, 2016. He began his career teaching at Kansas State and Iowa State universities’ colleges of veterinary medicine. Dr. McCoy later established a mixed animal practice in Conway Springs, Kansas.

He is survived by his wife, Jane; four children; and his grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, 2872 N. Ridge Road #122, Wichita, KS 67205.

David E. Rogers

Dr. Rogers (Georgia ’78), 64, Macon, Georgia, died Aug. 13, 2016. He owned a small animal practice in East Point, Georgia, prior to retirement. Dr. Rogers is survived by three siblings.

John R. Vriesenga

Dr. Vriesenga (Texas A&M ’58), 81, Boerne, Texas, died Nov. 14, 2016. Following graduation, he served in the Air Force, stationed in Japan. In 1961, Dr. Vriesenga established Forest Park Veterinary Center in Dallas, where he practiced small animal medicine for 40 years. In retirement, he helped found Cibolo Creek Veterinary Hospital in Boerne, working there part time. Dr. Vriesenga also volunteered with the Hill Country Animal League.

His daughter, son, and three grandchildren survive him.

Joyce A. Weidman

Dr. Weidman (California-Davis ’97), 61, Waddy, Kentucky, died Aug. 17, 2016. She was a small animal veterinarian. Dr. Weidman is survived by her husband, Michael Brewton.