David Harold Harpole, Sr. MD

Our sincere and deepest sympathy are with your entire family at this most difficult time. We first met Dr. Harpole in December, 1962, when our then 15 month old daughter, Laurie Jo Mayes, accidently swallowed a 2 inch metal hair barrette. She was rushed to Lewis Gale Hospital in downtown Roanoke where Dr. Harpole took charge of her. The barrette had lodged in her throat but then proceeded to her lung, which by then had collapsed. Dr. Harpole told us he would try to remove the barrette by going down her throat but after 3 tries he told us he would have to open her chest. She was such a tiny thing that we were having a difficult time making the decision whether or not to do this. With tears in his eyes, he told us he would try one more time to remove the barrette through her throat, but he also told us in doing so he could damage her larynx and she may never be able to speak normally again. We gave our permission and Dr. Harpole---with God guiding his hands--I am sure---removed the barrette successfully. She developed pneumonia and had to have a tracheotomy and was put in an oxygen tent. I, Bertie, stayed with her night and day for a week, and Dr. Harpole visited her many times during the day and night during that first week and during her entire stay in the hospital. He was wonderful and so caring. Laurie had, and does to this day, only a tiny scar on her neck where the trach was, but to us it is a scar that reminds us of a wonderful doctor that was not about to let our baby die. Later on, he told us that that was the largest---at that time--thing that had ever been removed without a chest opening and that he would carry that hair barrette on his keychain forever. In l979, Laurie entered the nursing program at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. One day, during one of her rotations, she was at a nursing station and Dr. Harpole was there also checking a patients chart. His keychain was lying on the counter and Laurie noticed it. She was well aware of the story of her scar and she immediately saw Dr. Harpole's name tag and she told him who she was and that she knew the barrette was the one on his keychain that she had swallowed so many years ago. She told us that he hugged her with tears in his eyes and told her he was so proud that she was on her way to becoming a Registered Nurse. She saw him many times during the course of her program and when he saw her, he always held up his set of keys with the barrette on them. Even with that tiny scar, she was and still is a beautiful blonde brown-eyed Surgical Nurse with a wonderful family. We are still grateful to God who lead us to Dr. Harpole and his wonderful skills and caring manner. Again, our sympathy to all who were fortunate enough to be part of his family. Sincerely, Richard and Alberta Mayes, Hollins, VA.

I am an RN and I worked for Dr. Harpole in his office in Roanoke for 3 years.. I enjoyed the experience. I am sorry that he left Roanoke. I had hoped our paths would cross again sometime. It didn't happen and I am grieved that I never got to see him again. May the Lord uphold you in this trying hour.
In deepest sympathy, Joyce V. Hodges

My mother first met Dr. Harpole when he came to Roanoke in the early 60s while she was a nursing student at Roanoke Memorial. She always appreciated the respectful manner in which he treated the nurses and the students when many others did not. He then treated my grandmother for vascular problems throughout the 1980's. She credited him with saving her life, and though him one of the best doctors in the world. He was a wonderful man, an even better physician, and he will be sorely missed. Our prayers are with you all at this most difficult time.

As President of Woody Funeral Home, I extend our deepest sympathy from all our staff for your loss. We are committed to providing the utmost care to you at this time and throughout the days to come. Our purpose is to assist and serve you in a manner that exceeds your expectations. We pledge to strive to merit the trust you have reposed in us.