Robert Hume Jr.

Hume, Robert Jr. FARMINGTON, N.M. Dr. Robert Davidson Hume Jr., 89, longtime Farmington physician, was reunited with his wife, Joan, on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. He passed away at Select Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo., following a short illness. He was born February 13, 1922, in Cohoes, N.Y., to Robert and Dora Bordeaux Hume. Dr. Hume, known as "Bob," attended St. Agnes Grade School and Cohoes High School. In 1944, he graduated from Siena College in Albany, N.Y., with a bachelor of science degree. He studied medicine at Marquette University. Upon graduation in 1945, his entire medical class was inducted into the army. He was allowed to finish his internship at Sister of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., where he met Joan, the nurse he would marry. In 1948, Bob was busy with shipping people to and from Europe as a military ship's doctor. In I950, he entered the Korean War as a regimental surgeon in the 187th Airborne. He was part of a MASH unit and made two combat jumps behind enemy lines for which he was awarded the Bronze Star. He returned to the States in 1952, and did his residency practice at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. In 1954, he became the chief of obstetrics, gynecology and general surgery at the army base of Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md. He would serve in the Army until 1957, when he resigned and was discharged with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1957, Bob set up an OB/GYN practice in Farmington, with his army buddy, Dr. Jack Ritzenthaler. He maintained this practice until his retirement in 1984. Over the course of his medical career in Farmington, he assisted in the delivery of more than 6,000 babies. Inducted into the Hall of Fame at San Juan Medical Center in 2008, his commendation reads, "Dr. Hume was on-call every other night and every other weekend for 27 years." His kind and generous spirit will remain with those he served so faithfully. Bob was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Dora, and his beloved wife, Joan. Bob is survived by his seven children, daughters, Ann and husband Bill Freimuth of Farmington, Kathy and husband Tim Howard of Pueblo, Colo., Nancy and husband Tim Jones of Albuquerque, Janet and husband John Mullen of Gloucester, Mass., Amy and husband Kevin Riehl of Espanola , N.M., and Carol and husband Mike Dickerson of Aztec, N.M.; son Bobby and wife Beverly Hume of Farmington; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by his brother George and his wife Lois Hume, and family of Cohoes. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 11, at Sacred Heart Church Catholic Church, 414 N. Allen Ave. in Farmington. Father Tim Farrell will officiate. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, 144 Louisiana Blvd. N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87108, or to the Dr. Robert and Joan Hume Memorial Scholarship to be established at San Juan Community College.