Robert Post Worden

TOWN OF FLEMING < Major Robert Post Worden, M.D., FACS, U.S. Army, Ret., 93, died Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008, at his home on Owasco Lake in the Town of Fleming following a series of strokes and a long illness. Born in Auburn on June 30, 1915, he was the second son of the late Frederic E. and Bessie Post Worden and brother to Frederic E. Worden, Jr. His father was president and chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Auburn. He attended Seward School, Central High School and was in the first graduating class of East High School in 1933. He received a B.S. from Hamilton College in 1937 and his M.D. from Cornell Medical School at New York Hospital in 1941. At graduation, he also received a commission as a first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps of the U.S. Army and he had an internship at Roosevelt and Lenox Hill Hospitals in New York City until World War II began. In the Army, he served in the 155th Infantry, 31st Div., as a field surgeon and saw combat in both New Guinea and the Philippines. He was awarded both the Bronze Star and the Citation Meritorious Achievement Award in 1944 and later received the Purple Heart after being shot by a sniper while going to the aid of a wounded soldier on the Island of Mindanao in 1945. After recovery at Rhodes General Hospital in Utica, he retired from the Army in 1946. In later years, he was the recipient of the Conspicuous Service Cross from New York state. Dr. Worden then resumed his surgical residency at Lenox Hill Hospital and when it was completed he moved back to Auburn to begin his practice. He was the first local surgeon to be Board Certified. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and he practiced for many years in this community, along with his wife, Dr. Florentine Reilley Worden, whom he married in 1950. He was a physician for the General Electric Co. in Auburn and later Chief of Surgery for both Mercy Hospital and Auburn Memorial Hospital. He was a member of the CNY Surgical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Cayuga County Medical Society. He and his wife retired from practice in 1980. Dr. Worden was an avid hunter, golfer, horseman and sportsman. He had many fine hunting dogs and belonged to the NY Angler#"s Club, a life member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the Owasco County Club and the American Legion Post 97. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Florentine Reilly Worden, M.D.; two sons, Mark F. Worden (Jacquelyn O#"Neil Worden), of Troy, and Robert P. Worden Jr. (Kathleen Fugelsang), of Northport, Long Island; and by four grandchildren, Michael, Molly, Nell and James Worden. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a daughter, Joan Post Worden; and by a brother, Frederic Earl Worden Jr. There are no calling hours. Friends are invited to attend services at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in Bradley Chapel, Fort Hill Cemetery. Following services and burial, there will be a reception at 10:30 a.m. until noon, at The Point, Sand Beach Road. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make contributions to the Joan Post Worden Scholarship Fund at Cayuga Community College, 197 Franklin St., Auburn, or to the Auburn Memorial Hospital, 17 Lansing St., Auburn, in his memory. Langham Funeral Home is handling arrangements. To send a message to the family, sign our guest book at www.auburnpub.com and click on obituaries.