Dr. Richard O. Pelham M.D.

PELHAM, M.D. Dr. Richard O. Pelham was born in Hector, N.Y. and graduated in 1945 from Northside High School in Corning, N.Y. He then served two years in the U.S. Army. Upon returning home he graduated from Nyack Missionary Training Institute in 1950 and was ordained as a pastor in 1954. He graduated from Temple University Medical School in 1958. After a surgical residency in Flint, Mich., he became a board certified general surgeon in 1964. Dr. Pelham spent the following year studying tropical medicine in Belgium and subsequently served as a medical missionary in Congo, Africa for four years. Upon returning to the U. S. in 1969 he entered private practice as a general surgeon until retirement in 1990. Dr. Pelham also served as medical director of Hospice of Harnett County in Erwin, N. C. from 1986-1990. He then spent several years counseling professionals with the disease of addiction as medical director of the Ohio Physicians Effectiveness Program and the Lawyers Assistance Program. Dr. Pelham was preceded in death by his first wife Lucille; and sisters Virginia (Fish) and Evelyn (Haflett). Dr. Pelham is survived by wife, Jodi of Plain City, Oh.; sisters, Loretta Whitaker of Ithaca, N.Y., Lena (Emerson) Ross of Lady Lake, Fla., Carolyn Jeliff of Wellsboro, Penn.; children, Amy (Richard) Earle of Minneapolis, Minn., Steve (Janet) Pelham of Richmond, Va., Patricia (Harold) Anglin of Mason, Wis., Becca (Gerald) Nelson of Mason, Wis., and 19 Grandchildren and one Great-grandchild. Dr. Pelham was a member of Dublin Baptist Church. The area of Christian missions remained a focus throughout his life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Missions Fund at Dublin Baptist Church or Hospice at Riverside and Grant. Memorial service Saturday 2 p.m. March 12, 2005, at Dublin Baptist Church, 7195 Coffman Road, Dublin. Pastor Darrell Gabbard officiating. Arrangements by SCHOEDINGER WORTHINGTON CHAPEL, 848-6699. Email condolences may be made by visiting www.schoedinger.com