Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Student member

Arthur A. Beat

Dr. Beat (Kansas State ’52), 92, Elkhorn, Nebraska, died March 3, 2015. He owned a mixed animal practice in Macomb, Illinois, prior to retirement in 1991. Earlier, Dr. Beat worked in Blandinsville, Illinois. He was a member of the Illinois State VMA. A past president of the Macomb School District #185 School Board and Illinois Cooperative Extension Council and a past trustee of the Macomb Kiwanis Club, Dr. Beat was active with the 4-H Club. He served in the Navy during World War II. Dr. Beat is survived by three sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren.

Gary W. Crouch

Dr. Crouch (Texas A&M ’68), 71, Los Fresnos, Texas, died Dec. 29, 2014. A mixed animal practitioner, he owned Animal Medical Clinic in Los Fresnos and Brownsville, Texas. Dr. Crouch also bred, raised, and showed market hogs. He served as veterinarian for the National Swine Registry Southwest Type Conference and was the official show veterinarian for the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show. Dr. Crouch was a past president of the RGVLS Breeding Gilt Committee and a member of the Texas VMA. He was active with the 4-H Club and National FFA Organization. Dr. Crouch is survived by his wife, Candyce; a daughter and two sons; and eight grandchildren. His sister, Dr. Ginanna Crouch (Texas A&M ’77), is a small animal veterinarian in Brookshire, Texas. Memorials may be made toward the Dr. Gary Crouch Memorial Scholarship, RGVLS for Breeding Gilt Showmanship Senior Division, 1000 N. Texas Blvd., Mercedes, TX 78570; or Lower Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 8278, Brownsville, TX 78526.

Jesse D. Derrick

Dr. Derrick (Auburn ’45), 93, Montgomery, Alabama, died April 7, 2015. Vice president of the AVMA from 1987-1989, he owned a large animal practice in Montezuma, Georgia, for 40 years. Early in his career, Dr. Derrick served in the Army Veterinary Corps. He was a past president of the Georgia VMA and served as its delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 1977-1987. During that time, he served on the AVMA House Advisory Committee. Dr. Derrick was also a past president of the South Georgia VMA. He was a member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.

In 1981, Dr. Derrick was named Georgia Veterinarian of the Year. He was a past president of the Macon County Farm Bureau, a past chair of the Montezuma Housing Authority, and was active with the Kiwanis Club. Dr. Derrick is survived by three children, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Memorials toward the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine may be made to the Auburn University Foundation, 317 South College St., Auburn, AL 36849.

Merlin R. Funderburg

Dr. Funderburg (Ohio State ’71), 69, Piqua, Ohio, died April 13, 2015. In 1974, he established Piqua Animal Hospital, where he practiced small animal medicine until 2010. Prior to that, Dr. Funderburg worked at Veterinary Medical Center in Everett, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Ohio VMA and a life member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

Dr. Funderburg’s wife, Kathy, survives him. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Miami County, P.O. Box 502, Troy, OH 45373; Miami County Animal Shelter, 1110 N. County Road, 25-A, Troy, OH 45373; or Piqua Community Foundation, P.O. Box 226, Piqua, OH 45356.

Jay R. Georgi

Dr. Georgi (Cornell ’51), 86, Freeville, New York, died April 3, 2015. He was professor emeritus of parasitology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine since 1989. Dr. Georgi served in the Air Force during the Korean War, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Marion Georgi (Cornell ’52), and a son and three daughters.

Robert J. Harris

Dr. Harris (Cornell ’50), 98, Turlock, California, died Feb. 21, 2015. He was the founder of Lander Veterinary Clinic in Turlock, where he practiced bovine medicine until retirement in 1985. Dr. Harris was a past president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and Northern San Joaquin VMA. He was also a past president of the Turlock Rotary Club. Dr. Harris served in the Army during World War II.

He is survived by a daughter and two sons, five grandchildren and three stepgrandchildren, five stepgreat-grandchildren, and two stepgreat-great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1660 Arbor Way, Turlock, CA 95280.

Virgil E. Hockgraver

Dr. Hockgraver (Illinois ’64), 77, Williamsfield, Illinois, died Jan. 27, 2015. He owned Williamsfield Veterinary Clinic, where he practiced mixed animal medicine for 47 years. Dr. Hockgraver was a veteran of the Army Veterinary Corps and a member of the American Legion. His wife, Nancy; three daughters; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren survive him.

Memorials for Dr. Hockgraver may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. BOX 758517, Topeka, KS 66675; Guardian Angels, P.O. Box 94, Galesburg, IL 61401; or Galesburg Rescue Mission, 435 E. 3rd St., Galesburg, IL 61401.

Arthur Jennison

Dr. Jennison (California-Davis ’76), 77, Modesto, California, died April 12, 2015. He owned Empire Veterinary Clinic, a small animal practice in Empire, California, prior to retirement. Prior to that, Dr. Jennison practiced at Crows Landing Road Veterinary Clinic in Modesto. His wife, Cathy, and a son survive him.

Kenneth E. Just

Dr. Just (Guelph ’63), 85, Regina, Saskatchewan, died March 3, 2015. He served as a regional veterinary supervisor for Agriculture Canada prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Just owned Mohawk Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Melfort, Saskatchewan, and a small animal practice in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He was a member of the Canadian and Saskatchewan VMAs. Dr. Just was also a member of the Rotary Club. He is survived by his wife, Eldi; three sons; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dr. Just’s brother, Dr. Harvey Just (Guelph ’51), is a veterinarian in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and his daughter-in-law, Dr. Maria Just (Saskatchewan ’91), is a practitioner in Regina. Dr. Just’s niece, Dr. Arlene Just (Saskatchewan ’79), also practices in Saskatchewan.

Richard D. Larcey

Dr. Larcey (Ohio State ’46), 90, Catawba Island, Ohio, died Jan. 4, 2015. He owned Westgate Animal Hospital in Fairview Park, Ohio, for 40 years. Dr. Larcey was an Army veteran. His three sons, two daughters, and 12 grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

Gilbert Lewis

Dr. Lewis (Cornell ’45), 91, Milwaukee, died Dec. 30, 2014. He was the founder of Lewis Animal Hospital, a mixed animal practice in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Dr. Lewis was appointed to the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board in 1990 and served as chair from 1995-1997. He was a member of the Wisconsin VMA. Dr. Lewis was a past president of the Menomonee Falls Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. His wife, Dorothy; a daughter and a son; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Menomonee Falls Rotary Trust, P.O. Box 71, Menomonee Falls, WI 53052.

Michael J. Rausch

Dr. Rausch (Purdue ’75), 65, Winamac, Indiana, died Jan. 17, 2015. A small animal practitioner, he owned Winamac Pet Medical Center prior to retirement in 2005. Earlier in his career, Dr. Rausch owned Animal Hospital of South Bend in South Bend, Indiana, and a house call practice. He was a member of the Indiana VMA and National Wild Turkey Federation. Dr. Rausch’s wife, Pamela, and two sons survive him. Memorials may be made to the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, 1 of 1000 Program, P.O. Box 67, Friendship, IN 47021; Pulaski County Community Foundation, 127 E. Pearl St., Winamac, IN 46996; or Pulaski Animal Center, 13 E. Indian Hills Road, Winamac, IN 46996.

George R. Reid

Dr. Reid (Colorado State ’48), 91, Greeley, Colorado, died April 10, 2015. Prior to retirement, he and his brother, Dr. Richard Reid (Washington State ’53), co-owned Reid Veterinary Hospital, a mixed animal practice originally established by their late father, Dr. George F. Reid, in Albany, Oregon. A member of the Rotary Club for more than 50 years, Dr. Reid was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also active with the Albany Library Board and Masonic Lodge. Dr. Reid served in the Army during World War II. His wife, Elvira; a daughter; and two grandsons survive him. Dr. Reid’s nephew, Dr. Timothy Reid (Oregon State ’88), owns Reid Veterinary Hospital, and his grandnephew, Harrison Reid, is a second-year veterinary student at Oregon State University. Memorials may be made to St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1730 Hill St. SE, P.O. Box 1556, Albany, OR 97321.

W. Dale Russell

Dr. Russell (Michigan State ’51), 87, Rockville, Indiana, died April 3, 2015. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned a practice in Rockville, Indiana, until 1988. After that, Dr. Russell worked part time at his former practice. He was a life member of the Indiana VMA. Active in civic life, Dr. Russell served three terms on the Parke County Council, was a past vice president of the Association of Indiana Counties, and was a charter member of the Rockville Elks. His wife, Christine; five sons and two daughters; and seven grandchildren survive him.

William J. Sanders

Dr. Sanders (Colorado State ’59), 79, Catalina, Arizona, died Feb. 27, 2015. He practiced large animal medicine in the Tucson area of Arizona for 55 years. Dr. Sanders also served as veterinarian for Los Charros Del Desiertos in Tucson for more than 40 years. He was a past president of the Arizona VMA and a board member of Equine Encore Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing retirement homes for racehorses. Dr. Sanders is survived by his wife, Helen; a son and a daughter; and three grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Equine Encore Foundation, 3225 W. El Burito Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705; or Amerind Foundation, 2100 N. Amerind Road, Dragoon, AZ 85609.

Robert C. Schuknecht

Dr. Schuknecht (Iowa State ’43), 94, Port Washington, Wisconsin, died April 20, 2015. He owned a mixed animal practice in Saukville, Wisconsin, for 50 years. Dr. Schuknecht was a member of the Wisconsin VMA. An Army veteran, he was also a member of the American Legion. Dr. Schuknecht helped establish the Oscar Grady Public Library in Saukville. He is survived by two sons and three grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Oscar Grady Public Library, 151 S. Main St., Saukville, WI 53080.

Keith C. Sherman

Dr. Sherman (Kansas State ’58), 88, Chanute, Kansas, died April 2, 2015. He worked for the Department of Agriculture prior to retirement in 1987. Following graduation, Dr. Sherman practiced briefly in Nickerson, Kansas. He then joined the USDA, initially working for the animal health division in Kansas, and, later, serving as a veterinary pathologist at the National Animal Disease Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Dr. Sherman earned his master’s in veterinary pathology from Iowa State University in 1962 and was subsequently appointed section leader of the NADL’s diagnostic pathology section. During that time, he also traveled to England as part of a team of 12 veterinarians to assist in the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease. In later years, Dr. Sherman served as assistant federal veterinarian in charge of Kansas and Missouri and federal veterinarian in charge of North Carolina.

A Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and a past commander of local chapters of both organizations. Dr. Sherman was also a member of the Elks and Masonic lodges. His wife, Rosemary; a son and a daughter; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild survive him. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

Kelly H. Smith

Smith (Michigan State ’15), 28, East Lansing, Michigan, died March 24, 2015. She was a member of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine student chapter of the AVMA. An avid equestrian, Smith competed in national competitions as part of The Eventing Association of Michigan’s Area 8 team. She won a Michigan Combined Training Association state championship and several blue ribbons in her eventing divisions. Memorials may be made to The Humane Society of West Michigan, 3077 Wilson Drive NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534; or Canter of Michigan, 8619 Edgewood Park Drive, Commerce Township, MI 48382.

Childs R. Wright Sr.

Dr. Wright (Georgia ’63), 79, Eden, North Carolina, died April 13, 2015. A mixed animal veterinarian, he was the founder of Central Animal Hospital in Eden. Dr. Wright was an honorary member of the North Carolina VMA. His wife, Jo Anne; two sons; and two grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Rockingham County Animal Shelter, 250 Cherokee Camp Road, Reidsville, NC 27320.

Notifications

For an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the date of death via a toll-free phone call to 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email to newsavma [dot] org (news[at]avma[dot]org); or fax to 847-925-9329.