Warren Locker Felton II

Warren Locker Felton II, MD, 76 years of age, nationally recognized pioneer Oklahoma City physician, civic leader and longtime member of the Nichols Hills City Council, died April 28, 2002, at his home surrounded by his family. Dr. Felton's 53-year medical career was marked by numerous landmark events, including participation as a member of Oklahoma's first kidney transplant team, headed by Dr. Charles Reynolds at Baptist Medical Center in 1963. Dr. Felton was well known for his dedicated involvement in city government in Nichols Hills where he made his home for 34 years, serving twice as Mayor (1993-1994 and 1997-1998) and remaining on the City Council until the time of his death. Born October 25, 1925, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Warren Locker Felton and Elizabeth Keller Felton, Dr. Felton graduated from Bartlesville High School in 1943 and attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1943 to 1946. Dr. Felton graduated from the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis in 1949. He served his internship at Grace-New Haven Community Hospital in New Haven, CT in surgery, gynecology and obstetrics. His residency came at Yale-New Haven Medical Center in general and thoracic surgery. In 1951-52, he served as research assistant in thoracic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine and in 1954-55, was an instructor in surgery. Board certification from the American Board of Surgery came in 1955 and from the Board of Thoracic Surgery in 1957. As Captain, United States Army Reserve, he was Chief of the General Surgical Service at Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, PA from 1956 to 1958. From 1958 to 1972, Dr. Felton was Clinical Assistant Professor, then Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and in 1972, became Clinical Professor and served until his death. Dr. Felton served as interim medical director of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department in 1985 and 1986. He was medical director of the Oklahoma Foundation For Peer Review from 1986 to 1991 and medical examiner of the American Service Bureau MEDITEST: American Para Professional Systems from 1992 until his death. Dr. Felton was a longtime staff member at Baptist Medical Center, serving as chairman of the Department of Surgery, president of the medical staff, and chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery. He also was on staff at Deaconess Hospital, Mercy Health Center, Saint Anthony Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital, South Community Hospital, Midwest City Regional Hospital, Children's Memorial Hospital, Oklahoma Memorial Hospital, and Veteran's Administration Hospital. He also held membership in Paramedic, Inc., American Para Professional Services, Examination Management Services, Inc., and World Wide Health. Dr. Felton's long career was marked by membership in numerous professional organizations, including Alpha Omega Alpha at Washington University, Society of Sigma Xi at Yale, the American Medical Association, American Thoracic (Trudeau) Society, Oklahoma Thoracic Society, Oklahoma County Medical Society, Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma City Clinical Society, Oklahoma City Surgical Society, Oklahoma Surgical Association, Oklahoma Heart Association, American College of Surgeons, Osler Society, Southwestern Surgical Congress, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (Founding Member), Oklahoma City Academy of Medicine, American Medical Peer Review Association, and Yale Surgical Society. Dr. Felton held the American Medical Association's Physicians Recognition Award. He served the Oklahoma County Medical Society as a board member, vice president and president from 1979 to 1985. He was president of the Oklahoma City Surgical Society in 1976. He served as a member of the council of the Oklahoma Surgical Association from 1981 to 1987 and was president in 1985-86. He was president of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American College of Surgeons in 1969-70 and president of the Osler Society in 1969. He was president of the Oklahoma City Academy of Medicine in 1984 and was a delegate to the American Medical Peer Review Association in 1989. Dr. Felton's career was also marked by his involvement in numerous other civic and medical groups. These included service on the board of directors of the Travelers Aid Society from 1961 to 1964, on the board of directors of the Oklahoma County Unit, American Cancer Society, from 1968 to 1970, on the research committee of Oklahoma Heart Association from 1966 to 1969, on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Blood Institute in 1985, on the board of directors and as chairman of the Oklahoma County Medical Society Community Foundation in 1985-86, and on the board of directors and as medical director of the Oklahoma Foundation for Peer Review. Dr. Felton had a long association with the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He served as a member of the Admissions Board from 1980-84, and on the executive committee 1982-84. He was a member of the Department of Surgery's Faculty Advisory Committee from 1963 to 1990 and served as chairman from 1967 to 1990. A member of the University of Oklahoma Associates, Dr. Felton was listed in Who's Who in the South and Southwest and Who's Who in America for many years. He was a member of the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oklahoma Museum of Art, the 1889'ers Society, and the Oklahoma County Historical Society. Dr. Felton began his involvement with municipal government in 1985 when he served a term on the Nichols Hills Planning Commission (1985-1987) followed by a term on the Board of Adjustment (1987 - 1990). He was first elected to the Nichols Hills City Council in 1993 and re-elected three times without opposition in 1996, 1999 and 2002. He served as Mayor from 1993 to 1994 and as Vice Mayor from 1994 to 1995. Dr. Felton served on the board of directors of the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments from 1993 to 2002. Dr. Felton was a member of the Oklahoma Healthcare Corporation from 1983 to 1994. He was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1995. In 1995, he was named to the Senatorial Service Academy Advisory Board. He was a member of the Oklahoma Conference of Mayors, the Oklahoma Municipal League and the National Eagle Scout Association. Dr. Felton was the author of numerous papers and articles that appeared in scientific journals and professional publications, including those of the Oklahoma County Medical Society, the Oklahoma State Medical Association and the American Journal of Surgery. Dr. Felton was a longtime member of the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club and the University of Oklahoma Faculty Association. He was a member of the congregation at All Soul's Episcopal Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren Locker Felton and Elizabeth Keller Felton, and his sister, Elizabeth Jane Felton Schroeder. He is survived by his wife, Judith Ann, and five children, Warren L. Felton III, M.D. and wife, Marian of Richmond, Virginia, Susan Elizabeth Felton Skove and husband, Mark of West Longbranch, New Jersey, Richard John Conrad Felton, M.D. and wife, Gail of Lexington, South Carolina, Alecia Ann Felton George, J.D. and husband, Kevin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Christina Jane Felton of Dallas, Texas, and nine grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at All Souls Episcopal Church, on Thursday, May 2, at 11:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nichols Hills Mayor's Park, 6407 Avondale Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73116 or The Family Life Center at All Souls Episcopal Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.