Joseph Howard Early Jr. M.D.

HILLSVILLE, VA -- Joseph Howard Early, Jr., M.D., 78, passed away at his home on April 13, 2003. A lifelong resident of Hillsville, VA, he was born on September 6, 1924, the only son of J. Howard and Myrtle Worrell Early. An infant son, James Wygal Early, preceded him in death.
Dr. Early graduated at 16 from Hillsville High School. He attended Roanoke College for two years, and then transferred to Emory and Henry College under the V12 Program at the outbreak of World War II. He graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1948, and interned at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. He returned home on August 17, 1949, to practice medicine. During the Korean War, he was called back to the Navy as a physician and served from 1953 through 1955. After the war, he came back to Hillsville, where he practiced medicine until retiring in 1992.
Dr. Early was president of the Southwest Virginia Medical Society in 1967, a member of the Virginia Professional Standards Board, and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He also served as a delegate to the American Medical Association from the Medical Society of Virginia for six years. In 1998, he was elected an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Medical Society of Virginia for his many years of service to the medical community. Dr. Early was also an FAA Medical Examiner as well as the Carroll County Medical Examiner for 42 years. In addition, Dr. Early was active in the advancement and prosperity of Carroll County, He was a founder, Charter Director and Vice President of the Bank of Carroll that was opened in 1971. He was also instrumental in the construction of the Twin County Airport and served on the Airport Commission from 1964 until 1991. In the last several years, Dr. Early had worked to establish the Carroll Wellness Center to improve the health of the citizens of Carroll County.
Dr. Early is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Charlotte Taylor Ridge Early; children, Susan Early Otero, M.D. and her husband Juan Pablo Otero, Deborah Early Hunter and her husband, Robert Clarke Hunter, India Early Keith and her husband, Graeme M. Keith, Jr., Lt. Col. Joseph Howard Early III and his wife, Susan Murphy Early, and Jubal Anderson Early and his wife, Katherine Currence Early; and grandchildren, Pablo, Luis and Elsa Otero, Rob, Elizabeth and Allison Hunter, Dowd, Graeme, Barrett, Tanner and Cody Keith, Josh Marshall and Matt Early, and Madison, Jubal and Linton Early.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carroll Wellness Center, c/o Randall Gravley, Hillsville, VA.
The family will receive everyone who wishes to express their condolences at their home, 1561 North Main Street, Hillsville, from 4 to 7 p.m. this evening, Tuesday, April 15th.
Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Funeral Home is serving the Early family.