Richard Coffman Shrum

Richard Coffman Shrum Dr. Richard Coffman Shrum, the only child of the late Luther Joseph Shrum and Zula Coffman Shrum, was born in Dayton, Virginia, on November 5, 1915, and died in Charlottesville, Virginia, on April 27, 2011.

Dr. Shrum graduated from Dayton High School in 1932, attended Augusta Military Academy for one year and in 1937 graduated from Bridgewater College where he was a member of Tau Kappa Alpha (an honorary forensic fraternity), valedictorian, and class president. After teaching math at Covington High School for one year, he entered medical school at the University of Virginia in the fall of 1938, became a member of Alpha Omega Alpha in 1941, and graduated in 1942.

Following an internship at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C., Dr. Shrum joined the Medical Corps, United States Army serving initially at the Medical Field Service School, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and later with the 24th Infantry Division, in the Philippine Islands as a Battalion Surgeon (in his description, "a glorified first-aid man") during the latter stages of World War II and then in Japan during the early part of the occupation. Shortly after arrival in Japan, Dr. Shrum was appointed Division Surgeon, an administrative position, necessitating his visiting many sites on the islands of Shikoku, Honshu and Kyushu, including the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For serving with infantry troops in combat, he was authorized to wear the Combat Medical Badge and awarded a Bronze Star Medal.

Under a program authorizing army physicians to take residencies in civilian hospitals, Dr. Shrum completed a residency in General Surgery at the Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1951. In addition to being the Chief Resident his last year there, he was first assistant to the late, renowned Dr. Fred W. Rankin. Dr. Shrum was Chief of the Surgical Service, United States Army Hospital, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from July 1951 to December 1954 and Chief of the Surgical Service, 2nd Field Hospital, Munich, Germany from January 1955 to March 1956 when he resigned his commission in the Regular Army (taking a commission in the United States Army Reserve) to enter civilian practice.

Dr. Shrum remained in the United States Army Reserve until November 5, 1975, when he retired with the rank of Colonel. While in the Reserve, through correspondence courses and residency, he graduated from the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and from the United States War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Shrum was in private solo practice of General Surgery in Charlottesville, Virginia from July 1, 1956, until his retirement in February 1985. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1954 and re-certified in 1980. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the Society of Consultants to the Armed Forces, and other regional and local professional organizations. He was on the Regular Staff of the Martha Jefferson Hospital and the Visiting Staff at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Although Dr. Shrum was not the first American Board certified surgeon on the staff of the Martha Jefferson Hospital, he was the first certified surgeon to be recertified by the American Board of Surgery. At the Martha Jefferson Hospital he held the following offices, Secretary of the Medical Staff, Vice-President of the Medical Staff, President of the Medical Staff, Vice-President of the Board of Trustees, and President of the Board of Trustees. During the last five years of his practice he was a member of the Admissions Committee, School of Medicine, University of Virginia.

Dr. Shrum belonged to Farmington Country Club and, while in practice, was a member of the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce. He was a life-long member of the Methodist Church having had his membership transferred to First United Methodist Church, Charlottesville, from Dayton Methodist Church where his paternal great grandparents, grandparents, and parents had been members.

Dr. Shrum was predeceased by his beloved wife of 65 years, Maureen Parrott Shrum.

He is survived by two sons, John Richard Shrum, M.D. and his wife, Ellen Martha Olin Shrum, Ph.D., of Charlottesville, and Joseph Parrott Shrum, M.D. of New Orleans; four grandchildren, Martha Maureen Sharpton and her husband, Jeremy Marshall Sharpton, of Arlington, John Joseph Shrum and his wife, Cara Lane Shrum, of Portland, Oregon, Katherine Olin Shrum of Portland, Oregon, and James Richard Shrum of Charlottesville; and two great-grandchildren, Tucker Brady Sharpton of Arlington and Calais Adeline Shrum of Portland.

During the past year, Dr. Shrum was richly blessed by the care and compassion of the Hospice of the Piedmont team; his family is eternally grateful for Hospice's immeasurable support.

Condolences may be sent to the Shrums at 1420 Foxbrook Lane, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Development Fund, Martha Jefferson Hospital, 459 Locust Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.

A celebration of Dick's life will be held at First United Methodist Church, 101 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, 3 p.m. on Monday, May 23, 2011. A reception at the church will follow the service.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.