Obituaries
AVMA member
AVMA honor roll member
Nonmember
J.A. Breckenridge
Dr. Breckenridge (MO '63), 74, King City, Mo., died Oct. 14, 2009. He served in the Navy during the Korean War. He owned King City Veterinary Services, where he practiced large animal medicine and some small animal medicine. He was a past president of the Northwest Missouri VMA. He is survived by his wife, Alice; three sons; and a daughter. Memorials may be made to the King City Community Betterment Foundation, c/o Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 153, King City, MO 64463.
William Gerencer
Dr. Gerencer (MSU '51), 80, Waterville, Maine, died Sept. 28, 2009. He served as a captain in the Air Force in Germany. In 1961, he co-founded Maine Poultry Consultants to provide veterinary services to the broiler industry and egg producers. Later, he co-founded Northeast Laboratory Services to provide microbiologic and chemistry services. After the collapse of the Maine broiler industry, Dr. Gerencer provided out-of-state consulting services. He then worked for Avian Farms, a supplier of broiler breeding stock, when the company moved its headquarters to Maine. He was active in the American Association of Avian Pathologists. In later years, he spent time volunteering with charities, including delivering for Meals-on-Wheels. He is survived by four children.
Lawrence M. Holland
Dr. Holland (COL '58), 79, Los Alamos, N.M., died Oct. 14, 2009. He served in the Air Force from 1948-1949. After graduating from veterinary college, he worked in private practice in Los Alamos from 1960-1966 and then worked for the Los Alamos National Laboratory until 1991. Active in his community, he was on the Los Alamos County Health Advisory Board and Los Alamos County Council, serving as chairman of the latter for two years. Dr. Holland won election to the post of Los Alamos County municipal judge, serving from 1987-1993. He also was on the Los Alamos Council on Alcoholism, serving as president from 1992-1995. In April 2009, he received recognition as a Living Treasure of Los Alamos.
Dr. Holland is survived by his wife, Phyllis; two daughters; and a son. Memorials may be made to Visiting Nurses Service, P.O. Box 692, Los Alamos, NM 87544, or Los Alamos Retirement Community, 1010 Sombrillo Court, Los Alamos, NM 87544.
Harold M. Okone
Dr. Okone (ALF '52), 85, Ogden Dunes, Ind., died Sept. 13, 2009. He served in the Army, owned and operated Dunes Pet Hospital in Miller, Ind., for many years, and recently worked at Ark of the Dunes Animal Hospital in Chesterton, Ind. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and a daughter and son. Memorials may be made to the family through Burns Funeral Home, www.burnsfuneral.com.
Stanley W. Pawlowski
Dr. Pawlowski (OSU '53), 83, Orwell, Ohio, died Nov. 12, 2009. He and his wife, Celia, founded Tri-County Veterinary Service and Clinic in Orwell. He spent 50 years there in rural mixed animal practice. His son Dr. Anthony M. Pawlowski (ROS '89) and daughter-in-law Dr. Gay Lynn Grigor (ROS '89) took over the practice. He was a life member of the Ohio VMA. He started athletic programs in local schools. Dr. Pawlowski is survived by his wife and seven children. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Western Reserve, 1166 Lake Ave., Ashtabula, OH 44004
A. Ross Roesler
Dr. Roesler (WSU '67), 66, Port Ludlow, Wash., died July 17, 2009. He worked for 25 years as a research pathologist for Pfizer, until his retirement in 1999. During his veterinary training at Washington State University, Dr. Roesler was inspired by Dr. Richard C. Piper, a pathologist on faculty who stimulated his interest in pathology. After earning his veterinary degree, Dr. Roesler studied pathology at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Roesler is survived by his wife, Claudine. Memorials may be made to Richard C. Piper Veterinary Pathology Teaching Endowment Fund, Washington State University, P.O. Box 641925, Pullman, WA, 99164-1925.
John W. Switzer
Dr. Switzer (CAL '62), 79, Sonoma, Calif., died Nov. 2, 2009. He served in the Navy during the Korean War as a medical corpsman. He worked for a private laboratory in Bethesda, Md., before buying a small animal practice in Sonoma in 1968. After a hiatus from veterinary medicine, he moved on to Sonoma Valley Pet Clinic. He is survived by a son and three daughters. Memorials may be made to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, 747 Mendocino Ave., Suite 100, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, or Pets Lifeline Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 341, Sonoma, CA 95476.
Karilyn K. Welsh
Dr. Welsh (PUR '69), 71, St. Helena Island, S.C., died Oct. 14, 2009. She had practiced in her hometown of Attica, Ind., until her retirement. Before attending veterinary school at Purdue University, she earned a degree from nearby St. Elizabeth School of Nursing.
Horace R. Willard
Dr. Willard (TEX '37), 95, Giddings, Texas, died Oct. 21, 2009. He served with the Army from 1937-1947, attaining the rank of major. He was regimental veterinarian for the 7th Cavalry in the South Pacific during World War II. He practiced in Giddings until 1959, worked in poultry and beef inspection for the Department of Agriculture until 1974, and raised cattle at his Lee County ranch since then. He served as president of the Bexar County VMA early in his career.
Dr. Willard was active with the Masons, Texas A&M University, and veterans organizations. He was on the board of the Giddings Independent School District, serving as president for 10 years. He was a former director of the Lee County Wildlife Association. He was on the boards of the Lee Memorial Hospital and Education Service Center Region XIII, serving as chairman of the latter for eight years.
Dr. Willard is survived by his wife, Mildred, and two daughters. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 279 Monroe St., Giddings, TX 78942; Lee County Historical Commission, 282 S. Grimes, Giddings , TX 78942; or Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center, 276 N. Orange St., Giddings, TX 78942.
Buford D. Winters
Dr. Winters (KSU '43), 91, Nowata, Okla., died Oct. 11, 2009. He spent time working in private practice in Chanute, Kan., until 1962. Then he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture until his retirement in 1984. He was a lifetime member of the Kansas State University Alumni Association. He is survived by his wife, Nadine; a son; and two daughters. His son, Dr. Kenneth D. Winters, graduated from the K-State veterinary college in 1967. A grandson, Dr. Kevin S. Winters, graduated from the K-State veterinary college in 1993, on the fiftieth anniversary of his grandfather's graduation. Drs. Kenneth and Kevin Winters practice in the Kansas City area. Memorials may be made to the 10-33 Emergency Team, P.O. Box 815, Nowata, OK 74048, or Nowata City-County Library, 224 S. Pine St., Nowata, OK 74048.