Robert T. Willingham

Family-Placed Death Notice

Dr. Robert Tilton Willingham, 78 of Atlanta, died Saturday, January 10, 2004. He was born in Marietta, GA., on March 24, 1925 to the late R.T. Willingham and Anne Bolling Claiborne Willingham. He graduated from Marietta High School, Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Willingham practiced Orthopedic Surgery at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta from 1957 until his retirement in 1995. During this time he was medical director of the Crippled Childrens Clinic for NW Georgia. His interest in children led him to work as an Orthopedic Surgeon in a missionary hospital in Korea in the 1970's and the 1980's. After his retirement he enjoyed doing volunteer work at the Good Samaritan Clinic. The Good Samaritan Clinic cares for the working poor who have no other access to medicine. He was a long time member of the Cathedral of St. Phillip where he served on the Cathedral Chapter for 12 years and was a member of the Board of Cathedral Towers. He was a veteran of WWII, awarded a Bronze Star for the Central European Campaign while serving as a combat medic in the 27th Tank Battalion of the 7th Army. He was a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the American Medical Association, the Rotary Club of Atlanta, and the Cherokee Club. He is survived by his wife, Anne Christian Willingham, sons, Robert T. Willingham III, of Columbus, GA; Dwight W. Willingham of Nashville, TN; Clark H. Willingham of Steamboat Springs, CO; Tom Willingham of Birmingham, AL; and John Willingham of Greenville, SC; daughter, Kate Bishop of Dothan, AL; a sister, Anne Stribling of Marietta; and a brother, Randy Willingham of Marietta; as well as 16 grandchildren. He was a loving, kind, and gentle man who loved Jesus, his family, and his friends, and loved caring for the sick. He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Good Samaritan Clinic, 239 Alexander St., Atlanta, GA. 30313, The Cathedral of St. Phillip, 2744 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA. 30305, or to the Fuqua Heart Center, care of Piedmont Hospital Foundation, 1968 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, GA. 30309. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 on Tuesday, January 13, at the Cathedral of St. Phillip. Interment will follow at St. James Episcopal Church Cemetery, Marietta. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until the hour of service in the Gould Room at the Cathedral of St. Phillip. H.M. Patterson & Son Spring Hill, 1020 Spring St. 404-876-1022.