Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Robert W. Acton

Dr. Acton (MSU '51), 86, Jackson, Mich., died April 26, 2011. He practiced in Jackson for 40 years. A life member of the Michigan VMA, Dr. Acton was a member of the Mid-State VMA and helped establish the Jackson VMA. He was a veteran of the Navy and the Marines. Dr. Acton's wife, Margaret; a son; and two daughters survive him.

Robert C. Asmus

Dr. Asmus (KSU '57), 81, Omaha, Neb., died June 18, 2011. He was the founder of Omaha Vaccine Company, which he sold to ConAgra in 1984. Early in his career, Dr. Asmus practiced large animal medicine at the Omaha Stockyards. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; two children; and five stepchildren. Memorials may be made to Boys Town (providing care to at-risk youth), 14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, Nebraska 68010.

Timothy J. Barrow

Dr. Barrow (LIV '69), 64, Reading, Pa., died July 28, 2011. A graduate of the University of Liverpool in England, he was a small animal veterinarian who owned Oley Valley Animal Clinic in Oley, Pa., from 1986-2009. Dr. Barrows then sold the practice and served as its managing veterinarian. Early in his career, he was a veterinary investigation officer in North Yemen and practiced small animal medicine in the United Kingdom. Dr. Barrow began practice at Oley Valley Animal Clinic in 1981. His wife, Fiona, survives him. Memorials may be made to Fauna and Flora International, 4th Floor, Jupiter House, Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JD, United Kingdom.

Ernest E. Bruce

Dr. Bruce (KSU '54), 87, Eau Claire, Wis., died July 20, 2011. He retired in 1984 as a circuit supervisor with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Eau Claire and St. Cloud, Minn. Following graduation, Dr. Bruce practiced large animal medicine in Pierce, Neb., and Estherville, Iowa. He subsequently joined the USDA with supervisory duties in Estherville and Storm Lake, Iowa. Dr. Bruce later worked for the USDA in Arlington, Va. and Denton, Texas. He was a member of the National Association of Federal Veterinarians. An Army veteran of World War II, Dr. Bruce was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. During his military service, he received a Purple Heart. Dr. Bruce's wife, Wilodyne, and three children survive him. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 50414; or Walter Reed Fisher House, 6900 Georgia Ave. N.W., Washington DC 20307.

Asa B. Childers Jr.

Dr. Childers (TEX '60), 75, Bryan, Texas, died July 21, 2011. He was a member of the veterinary faculty at Texas A&M University for 37 years, retiring as associate professor emeritus of veterinary integrative biosciences. Dr. Childers was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

Dr. Childers is survived by his wife, Barbara; a son; and two daughters. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 3100 Cambridge Drive, Bryan, TX 77802; Texas A&M Foundation (in support of the Corps of Cadets), 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840; or Baptist Student Ministry, Texas A&M University, 203 College Main, College Station, TX 77840.

Wyman D. Davis

Dr. Davis (MSU '51), 90, Venice, Fla., died May 19, 2011. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Adrian, Mich., for 25 years. Earlier in his career, Dr. Davis was a member of the veterinary faculty at Michigan State University for 10 years. He served in the Navy during World War II. Dr. Davis is survived by his wife, Harriet; a son; and a daughter.

Raymond O. Hill

Dr. Hill (KSU '51), 84, Centralia, Ill., died Aug. 7, 2011. During his career, he served as a veterinary pathologist and directed the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Animal Disease Laboratory. Dr. Hill was a past president of the Illinois State VMA and a past chair of its board of directors. In 1992, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine honored him with a Service Award.

A Navy veteran of World War II, Dr. Hill was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Active in civic life, he was a past president of the Central City Lions Club. Dr. Hill is survived by two sons and three daughters. Memorials toward the Central City Lions Club or St. Peters United Church of Christ may be made c/o Irvin Funeral Home, 234 S. Elm St., Centralia, IL 62801.

Walter Jastrembsky

Dr. Jastrembsky (LEI '45), 97, Chicago, died June 4, 2011. A graduate of the University of Leipzig in Germany, he practiced at Avondale Animal Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Jastrembsky was a life member of the Chicago VMA. His son, Dr. Ihor W. Jastrembsky, a 1985 graduate of the University of Vera Cruz in Mexico, practices at Avondale Animal Hospital.

Sidney R. Kay

Dr. Kay (TEX '40), 93, Webster, Texas, died Aug. 3, 2011. From 1942 until retirement in 1984, he owned a small animal practice in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Kay is survived by his wife, Shirley, and three daughters. Memorials may be made to the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX 77843.

William T. Kerber

Dr. Kerber (ISU '60), 75, Tallahassee, Fla., died July 31, 2011. A diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, he served as director of laboratory animal medicine at Florida State University prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Kerber served as a captain in the Army Chemical Corps; worked for Hazleton Laboratories as research coordinator and staff veterinarian; was an assistant professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia; served as head of the Medicine Section in the National Center for Primate Biology at the University of California-Davis; and was director of the Caribbean Primate Research Center at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. His three daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to Goodwood Museum and Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Road, Tallahasee, FL 32308.

Norman H. Laber

Dr. Laber (COL '65), 74, Eaton, Colo., died June 10, 2011. He owned Eaton Animal Clinic since 1965, practicing mostly large animal medicine for 35 years and then focusing on small animals. Dr. Laber was a life member of the Colorado VMA and was active with the Weld County VMS in the early years of his career. He is survived by his wife, Rose Marie; a son; and a daughter. Memorials toward the Weld County Humane Society, Eaton Lions Club, American Lung Association, or Faith Lutheran Church may be made c/o Mosier Funeral Service, 3501 11th Ave., Evans, CO 80620.

Paul E. Neff

Dr. Neff (MSU '44), 89, Madera Canyon, Ariz., died April 3, 2011. Prior to retirement in 1985, he owned a small animal practice in Tucson, Ariz. Earlier in his career, Dr. Neff practiced mixed animal medicine in Sheboygan, Wis. His wife, Iris, and a son survive him.

Harold W. Pilcher

Dr. Pilcher (MO '50), 88, Kansas City, Mo., died July 25, 2011. Prior to retirement in 1984, he owned Pilcher Animal Hospital in Kansas City. Dr. Pilcher also raised Black Angus cattle and in retirement he established Lakeview Angus Farms near Gallatin, Mo. He served in the Army during World War II, attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant. Dr. Pilcher served in the Army Reserve for 27 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

His daughter and son survive him. Memorials may be made to Crossroads Hospice, 9237 Ward Parkway, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64114; Gashland Methodist Church, 7715 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64118; or Honor Flight Network of Kansas City, c/o Kendallwood Hills Estate, 8559 Line Creek Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64154.

Richard E. Shope Jr.

Dr. Shope (COR '59), 84, Hudson, Wis., died July 7, 2011. After receiving his doctorate in microbiology and physiological biochemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1964, Dr. Shope became a member of the university's faculty, teaching and conducting research on several diseases, including pseudorabies, bovine viral diarrhea, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, hog cholera, and swine influenza. His research also focused on the adverse effects of viral vaccines in various species, isolation of C-type virus particles from leukemic and lymphocytotic cattle, and epidemiologic studies on the mechanisms of vertical and horizontal transmission of bovine leukemia. Dr. Shope's efforts on foot-and-mouth disease, sponsored by the World Health Organization, led to field work in Brazil from 1970-1972. He retired in 1994 as a professor in the Department of Veterinary Molecular Biosciences.

Dr. Shope was a member of the Minnesota VMA, United States Animal Health Association, American Association of Veterinary Clinicians, and American Association of Veterinary Diagnosticians. His late father, Richard E. Shope Sr., MD, worked on a variety of animal diseases, including the Shope papillomavirus in rabbits, and was known for his efforts in isolating the swine influenza virus and helping isolate the human influenza virus. Dr. Shope's brothers, the late Robert E. Shope, MD, and Thomas C. Shope, MD, also pursued careers involving animal research, the former in the field of arbovirology and the latter in virology and experimental biology.

Dr. Shope is survived by five sons and a daughter. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004.

Mark H. Werbin

Dr. Werbin (KSU '53), 87, Derby, Kan., died July 1, 2011. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in meat inspection prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Werbin owned a primarily large animal practice in Sedgwick, Kan. He served as a 1st lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve until 1972. Dr. Werbin's wife, Nora, and four children survive him. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, Sixth and Franklin, Sedgwick, KS 67135.

Bradley D. Wilson

Dr. Wilson (KSU '87), 51, Salt Lake City, died May 26, 2011. He owned Foothill Animal Clinic, a small animal practice in Salt Lake City, since 1994. Earlier in his career, Dr. Wilson practiced large animal medicine in Salt Lake City. He is survived by his daughter. Memorials may be made to the Billye Wilson Educational Fund, c/o Merrill Lynch, 60 E. South Temple Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84111; or Humane Society of Utah, P.O. Box 573659, Murray, UT 84157.

Your assistance is needed to ensure timely publication of obituaries. Please report the death of a veterinarian promptly to AVMA News Staff: (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6754; newsavma [dot] org (email); fax: (847) 925-9329.