Robert Larry Jetton

Robert Larry Jetton, formerly of Greenville, South Carolina, died peacefully on October 24, 2024 at the age of 86. Born October 13, 1938 in Murray, Kentucky to Sue Boyd Miller and Buel Harbard Jetton, Larry was a talented baseball player in his youth and lifelong baseball fan - in particular he enjoyed watching the Little League World Series every August. He attended high school in Murray and graduated from Murray State University in 1960 with a degree in chemistry and mathematics. He then attended Vanderbilt University where he earned a Master's in chemistry in 1961 and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1965. He completed a residency in Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in 1969, followed by 2 years of military service as a naval physician at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. After two years on the medical faculty of University of Louisville, in 1973 Larry moved with his family to Greenville and opened a private dermatology practice. Though he initially retired in 2001, he continued to see patients on a part-time basis until just after his 81st birthday in 2019. During these years, Larry also traveled the world with particularly memorable trips to China, Cambodia, Africa and Chile.

Highly regarded by his colleagues, Larry was admired by his patients not only for the excellent care he provided but also for his compassionate manner and great sense of humor which put them at ease. He served as president of both the South Carolina Dermatology Association and the Piedmont Dermatological Society, and founded Dermatology Night at the Greenville Free Medical Center where he volunteered for several years. In the later years of his career, he especially enjoyed mentoring and teaching younger physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses at his former practice.

Larry is survived by his three sisters, Janet Gerrain and Nancy Sutton of Coxsackie, New York and Cynthia Stone of Littleton, Colorado. He is also survived by his four sons, William (Tricia) of Charlotte, North Carolina; Andrew (Jennifer) of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin; Peter (Jennifer) of Lexington, Virginia; and Robert (Jennifer) of Cary, North Carolina; along with grandchildren Elizabeth, Emily, Violet, Maren, Matthew, Charles, Katherine, and August.

Always a Kentuckian at heart and a South Carolinian in spirit, Larry spent the last several months of his life in Wisconsin where his son Andrew was able to care for him and make him as comfortable as possible. The family would like to thank the staff of Heartis Senior Living North Shore and St. Croix Hospice who cared so lovingly for him in his final days, as well as family friends Sheri Stowe, Judy Weaver, Bob Mahon, Missy Wilson, and Mary Hassett for all of their help and support over the past few years.

A memorial eucharist in his memory will be spoken at Christ Church Episcopal in Whitefish Bay on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 4:00 PM. A funeral service and burial at Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville, South Carolina will be held on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Larry's name may be made to the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine or the Alzheimer's Association.