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October 01, 2021

Obituaries

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AVMA member

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Garnard J. Boner

Dr. Boner (Ohio State ’63), 90, Marysville, Ohio, died June 29, 2021. He served on the faculty of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine prior to retirement in 1995. During his tenure, Dr. Boner was director of Finley Farm, the veterinary college’s teaching and research farm; served as building coordinator for The Ohio State Equine Center; taught and practiced at OSU Large Animal Services in Marysville; and served as associate director of the OSU Veterinary Medical Center. Early in his career, he owned a mixed animal practice in Kenton, Ohio.

Dr. Boner was a past director of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners and was a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. He was also a member of the Union County Fair Board, serving as the veterinarian for county and state fairs. In 1991, the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association honored Dr. Boner with a Charles Boyles Master Shepherd Award. A veteran of the Korean War, he served in the Air Force.

Dr. Boner is survived by his wife, Donnie June; three daughters; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Jack Judy Memorial Scholarship, c/o the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, 280 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43218; the Union Rural Electric Scholarship Fund, c/o Union County Foundation, 126 N. Main St., Marysville, OH 43040; or the Veterinary Medicine Farm Animal Support Fund (#310054), The Ohio State University Foundation, 2200 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43210.

Henry B. Curtis

Dr. Curtis (Michigan State ’59), 86, San Diego, died June 14, 2021. Following graduation, he practiced small animal medicine in Detroit for four years. Dr. Curtis then moved to Houston, where he worked at Bellaire Blvd Animal Clinic and the former Post Oak Animal Clinic. He subsequently owned what was known as Animal Medical Clinic of Memorial Drive and River Road Animal Clinic in Houston.

Dr. Curtis was a member of the Texas and Harris County VMAs. He was a past president of the Optimist Club of Sharpstown and was active with the Boy Scouts, serving as a sponsor for scouts interested in veterinary medicine. Dr. Curtis is survived by his wife, Fifi; a stepdaughter; and two grandchildren.

Charles B. Fager IV

Dr. Fager (Pennsylvania ’55), 96, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, died Feb. 26, 2021. He co-owned Camp Hill Animal Hospital in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, with his brother, Dr. Hummel Fager (Pennsylvania ’53). Dr. Fager was a member of the Capital Area Flyers Club. An Air Force veteran of World War II, he received an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, a European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Theater Ribbon, four Bronze Stars, and a Distinguished Unit Citation Badge. Dr. Fager’s two daughters, two sons, and four grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, 7790 Grayson Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111, or Molly’s Place Rescue, P.O, Box 328, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.

Thomas A. Krall

Dr. Krall (Ohio State ’74), 72, Seminole, Florida, died May 8, 2021. Following graduation, he practiced small animal medicine in Canton, Ohio. Dr. Krall subsequently served in the Air Force as a base veterinarian in Plattsburg, New York. During that time, he also worked part time at a practice in Burlington, Vermont. Dr. Krall retired with the rank of captain. He then moved to Florida, where he began teaching in the veterinary technology program at St. Petersburg College while also continuing his career in small animal medicine at Pasadena Veterinary Hospital in St. Petersburg.

In 1977, Dr. Krall co-established Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital in Seminole, serving as a managing partner for more than 25 years. He also became a professor at St. Petersburg College, retiring as a professor emeritus in 2019. Dr. Krall was a past treasurer of what was known as the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians; a member of the Florida and Pinellas County VMAs, American Animal Hospital Association, and Association of Veterinary Technician Educators; and served on the American Association of Veterinary State Boards’ Veterinary Technician National Exam Committee. He was also active with Rotary International for many years.

A marathoner who completed 15 marathons, Dr. Krall led a winning six-member veterinarian team in a relay in 1982 across Florida. His wife, Barbara; a son and a daughter; and three sisters survive him. Memorials toward the Carillon Fund may be sent to the Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33708.

Donald F. Lamb

Dr. Lamb (Iowa State ’59), 86, Moorhead, Iowa, died July 20, 2021. Following graduation, he practiced large animal medicine in Baxter, Iowa, for seven years. Dr. Lamb subsequently worked in Sioux City, Iowa, until 1989, when he retired to his farm. During his life, he farmed with his partners for nearly 50 years.

Dr. Lamb was active with Gideons International. His wife, Pat; two daughters and a son; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren survive him. Dr. David K. Meyerholz (Iowa State ’94), Dr. Lamb’s son-in-law, is a professor of pathology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Memorials may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214, or Christian Veterinary Mission, P.O. Box 5888, Lynnwood, WA 98046.

Monte Y. Swatzell

Dr. Swatzell (Texas A&M ’51), 93, Cleburne, Texas, died July 2, 2021. He owned Cleburne Veterinary Hospital, a mixed animal practice, prior to retirement in 1995. Dr. Swatzell was a member of the Texas VMA. A master gardener, he was also a member of the Bluebonnet Garden Club. Dr. Swatzell’s son, two daughters, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two brothers survive him. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 114, Cleburne, TX 76033.

Leigh T. Wilcox

Dr. Wilcox (Cornell ’75), 70, Jefferson, New York, died July 16, 2021. Following graduation, he served as a partner at a practice in Lowville, New York. Dr. Wilcox then became an instructor at the State University of New York in Canton, where he later served as dean of veterinary sciences and as acting vice president. He subsequently served as president of Mater Dei College in Ogdensburg, New York, and was a professor of veterinary science at the State University of New York in Delhi prior to retirement. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Wilcox continued to practice veterinary medicine, most recently from his farm in Jefferson.

His wife, Susan; two sons and a daughter; and two sisters and a brother survive him. Memorials may be made to Oneonta Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820.