David Roy Morledge M.D.

BOULDER CREEK, Calif. - David Roy Morledge was born Oct. 25, 1926, in Columbus Ohio, to Dr. Roy Vernon and Julia Alvida Terihn Morledge. After Dr. Morledge's father Roy Vernon completed his medical training in 1929 their family settled in Billings, Mont. At the age of 15 years, Dr. Morledge attended the San Diego Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, Calif., with the ambition to sail boats. Per the recommendation by one of Dr. Morledge's commanders at the the Academy, Dr. Morledge, at 17 years of age, applied and was accepted to Stanford University. In 1943, he left Stanford early to serve with the United States Army during WWII. After 1-1/2 years of duty earning the rank of Sergeant, he decided to continue his college studies.

After his honorable discharge at the end of World War II, he returned to Stanford in 1947 to complete his undergraduate degree in biology graduating in 1948, attended the Montana State University earning his Master's in Bacteriology in 1948, attended Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, graduating in 1954, attended his internship at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City in 1954-55, and completed a General Surgery residency at University of Oregon (Portland) Hospital in 1960. That year, Dr. Morledge, along with his growing family of three children, started a practice of Surgery and General Medicine in Lewistown, Mont.

In 1961, he moved his family and himself back to his hometown of Billings, Mont., and continued his practice for eight years. Dr. Morledge was a Captain for 10 years in the Medical Corps., U.S. Army Reserves and in the U.S. Air Force Reserves from 1954-1964, dedicating his precious time addressing the medical needs of our countries military. During this time he discovered his medical interests truly were in the same field of his fathers Roy Vernon, Otolaryngology. To pursue these interests in this field of medicine in 1969, he and his family of now four children moved to the Los Angeles area to complete his residency in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, and Facial Plastic Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

In November 1972, Dr. Morledge completed his residency in Otolaryngology and accepted a position at the University of Vermont College of Medicine as the Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery in Burlington, Vt., to fulfill his desire to be more involved with academic medicine. During this short time, his desire to have another private practice grew, and combined with his love of California, he decided to accept a position available in Bakersfield, Calif., in August of 1973, where he established a practice and his family continued to grow to seven children.

In July 2005, Dr. Morledge with his wife, Renate-Verena, retired to Boulder Creek in the Santa Cruz mountains of California, a place he grew to love the most during his undergraduate years at Stanford. During Dr. Morledge's retirement he enjoyed reading biographies and science literature, antique cars and hiking the Redwood Trails.

Dr. Morledge's other interests included antique automobiles; snow skiing; building or reconstructing his homes, mountain cabin, his medical office and rental properties.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers John, Charles and Roy Jr.; and his sister Polly.

Dr. Morledge is survived by his wife, Renate-Verena of Boulder Creek; children Vivian Diana Timperman and husband Albert of Mansfield, Ohio, David Eric Morledge of Boise, Idaho, Thomas Joseph Morledge of Chardon, Ohio, John Charles Morledge and wife Melissa of Vacaville, Calif., Michael David Morledge of Boulder Creek, Donna Michelle Morledge Istvan and husband Chris of Newport, Wash., Daniel Louis Morledge of Azusa, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; brother Thomas Edison Morledge and wife Lynn; and numerous nieces, nephews; nine stepchildren and their numerous children.

There will be a memorial service on March 9, 2013, at 11 a.m. at First Congregational Church in Santa Cruz, Calif., 900 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. There will be a second service in Billings, Mont., tentatively set for late spring with a date to be announced in the near future.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the charity of one's choice.

Dr. David Morledge