Obituaries

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Arthur H. Becker

Dr. Becker (Kansas State ’62), 84, Missoula, Montana, died May 22, 2016. He was the founder of Beaver Valley Animal Hospital in Beaver City, Nebraska, where he practiced mixed animal medicine for 52 years prior to retirement in 2014. Dr. Becker was a member of the Nebraska VMA. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, Jaycees, Lions International, and Shriners International. Dr. Becker served in the Army from 1953-1955.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; three daughters; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Lance W. Gorrindo

Dr. Gorrindo (Colorado State ’04), 39, Minden, Nevada, died April 4, 2016. A small animal veterinarian, he co-owned Carson Valley Veterinary Hospital in Minden for 12 years. Dr. Gorrindo is survived by his wife, Courtney, and a son and daughter.

Dan M. Leach

Dr. Leach (Texas A&M ’73), 67, Lubbock, Texas, died April 19, 2016. He was the co-founder of Animal Medical Center of Lubbock, where he practiced small animal medicine prior to retirement in 1997. Dr. Leach’s son and daughter survive him.

William M. Ritchey

Dr. Ritchey (Texas A&M ’71), 71, Mason, Texas, died March 29, 2016. He was a founding partner of Ritchey-Moore Veterinary Clinic in Huntsville, Texas, retiring in 2011. Dr. Ritchey was active with the Walker County Fair and 4-H Club. Early in his career, he served in the Air Force, receiving the Vietnam Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal for his service during the Vietnam War.

Dr. Ritchey is survived by three daughters and six grandchildren.

W. Everette Salley

Dr. Salley (Georgia ’58), 84, Orangeburg, South Carolina, died June 26, 2016. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Orangeburg for 40 years. Dr. Salley was a past president of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians and served on the Orangeburg City Council for 30 years. His wife, Susan; three sons; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren survive him. Dr. Salley’s father, the late Dr. Raymond R. Salley (Auburn ’19), was a past Orangeburg County veterinarian.

Memorials may be made to Catch the Vision, 1425 Russell St., Orangeburg, SC 29115, or First Baptist Church of Orangeburg, 1240 Russell St., Orangeburg, SC 29115.

Ian G. Shaw

Dr. Shaw (Minnesota ’67), 74, Roseville, Minnesota, died May 16, 2016. He practiced small animal medicine at Suburban Animal Hospital in Roseville for 44 years. Prior to that, Dr. Shaw worked a year at Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Richfield, Minnesota. His wife, Joan; four daughters; and nine grandchildren survive him.

Memorials may be made to Humane Society of Minnesota, 475 N. Cleveland Ave., #100B, St. Paul, MN 55104, or Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 County Road C2 W., Roseville, MN 55113.

Stephen A. Shores

Dr. Shores (Texas A&M ’64), 75, Gainesville, Florida, died April 17, 2016. A small animal veterinarian, he owned Shores Animal Hospital in Gainesville from 1972 until retirement in 2015. Dr. Shores also owned Butler Plaza Pet Clinic in Gainesville from 1988-2000 and co-established Affiliated Pet Emergency Services in Gainesville. Early in his career, he practiced in Irving, Texas. Dr. Shores served as president of the Florida VMA from 2005-2006 and helped found the Alachua County VMA.

He was a past recipient of the FVMA Distinguished Service Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, and, in 2015, he was presented with a honorary doctorate of veterinary medicine by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Shores is survived by his wife, Pat; two sons, a daughter, a stepson, and a stepdaughter; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Robert F. Tolley

Dr. Tolley (Colorado State ’38), 101, Williamsburg, Virginia, died Feb. 27, 2016. He practiced small animal medicine in Newport News, Virginia, for 40 years. Dr. Tolley was a member of the Rotary Club and served on the board of directors of the Virginia Living Museum. His four children, nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren survive him.

Thomas E. Vice

Dr. Vice (Michigan State ’57), 82, San Antonio, died March 16, 2016. He founded and owned Broadway Animal Hospital, a small and exotic animal practice in San Antonio, for 32 years. Dr. Vice also served as veterinarian at the San Antonio Zoo and cared for the primates at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. He was active with the San Antonio Humane Society and worked with the San Antonio Area Foundation on its Animal No-Kill Initiative.

Dr. Vice is survived by his wife, Betty. Memorials may be made to the San Antonio Area Foundation, 303 Pearl Parkway, Suite 303, San Antonio, TX 78215 (with the memo line of the check notated to the Dr. Thomas E. Vice Fund); Dr. Thomas Vice Veterinary Scholarship Fund, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX 77843; or San Antonio Humane Society, 4804 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229.

Patricia M. Zook

Dr. Zook (Texas A&M ’74), 65, Decatur, Georgia, died May 29, 2016. She most recently practiced small animal medicine at Gwinnett Animal Hospital in Snellville, Georgia. Prior to that, Dr. Zook worked at Loving Touch Animal Hospital in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Following graduation, she practiced briefly in Jacksonville, Texas. Dr. Zook incorporated complementary medicine into her work, including Chinese and herbal medicine. Memorials may be made to Gwinnett Animal Hospital’s Good Samaritan Fund, 2184 McGee Road, Snellville, GA 30078.


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 newsatavma [dot] org (news[at]avma[dot]org); or fax to 847-925-9329.