Dr. Paul Kenneth Ayars Jr.

Dr. Paul Kenneth Ayars Jr.Dr. Paul Kenneth Ayars Jr., age 70, passed away on February 14, 2016, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945, to Dr. Paul and Geraldine Bennett Ayars. Paul grew up in southern New Jersey, where he graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1963. He was awarded an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Scholarship to Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. In 1966, Paul was offered early admission to Duke University Medical School in Durham, North Carolina, and graduated in 1970. After medical school, he completed a medical-surgical internship at Jefferson University Medical Center in Philadelphia. In 1971, Paul entered the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon and was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was deployed to Udorn Air Force Base in Thailand for six months. He embraced the opportunity to fly missions with the 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron and traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia. In addition, he took an active role in medical initiatives to help Thai natives.In 1973, following his military service, Paul was accepted as an ophthalmology resident at Baylor University Medical Center in Houston, Texas. During his third year of training, he completed a three-month ophthalmic surgery rotation in Cali, Colombia. Again, he took advantage of the opportunity for adventure and traveled throughout South America.In 1976, Paul established a private ophthalmology practice in Corpus Christi, Texas, becoming a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 1977. He was an active member of the Christus Spohn Health System Executive Board, the Nueces County Medical Society, and the Texas Ophthalmological Association. He also participated in Mission of Mercy medical trips to El Salvador, providing ophthalmic services to communities in need. While living in Corpus Christi, Paul, an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed tennis, sailing, hunting, and fishing. He served as a board member of Coastal Conservation Association. In 2008, he retired from his beloved ophthalmology practice and moved to Charleston. Paul is survived by his wife, Geni Gierhart Ayars; three daughters Jennifer Ayars, Katherine Ayars, and Stephanie Ayars; sister, Patricia Roever; nephew, Christopher Roever; niece, Cynthia Roever; three Gierhart sons and wives, Jack and Karen, Guy and Beth, and Bert and Margaret; and seven Gierhart grandchildren: Hannah, Signe, Jackson, Guy Jr., William, Elise and Edon.A private family service will be held at a later date.Cremation services will be performed at W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home (http://www.wmsmithmcnealfuneralhome.com/) in Charleston, SC.The family requests that memorial gifts be designated to support Amyloidosis research at Mayo Clinic. Gifts can be mailed directly to Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905 or online at Mayoclinic.org.