Joseph Dayton Foley

FOLEY Joseph Dayton Foley, M.D., age 88, formerly of Jacksonville, Florida, died April 1, 2007, in Central Florida. After retirement, Dr. Foley moved from Jacksonville to Central Florida, to be near his 3 sons, Joe, Jr., Doug, and Greg. Dr. Foley was born in Opp, Alabama, on May 8, 1918, the middle of three children of Joseph and Alice Foley. Dr. Foley was a graduate of Pensacola High School in Pensacola, Florida, and attended Southern Missionary University in Collegedale, Tennessee. He then attended the California College of Medical Technologies in San Gabriel, California, and became a Radiological Technologist and a Medical Technologist. But he was determined to become a Physician, and despite his lack of funds he made a long-shot application to medical school at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California. He believed God helped him gain acceptance to medical school. In his autobiography, which he titled "Dirt Poor, Determined, and Successful", Dr. Foley said that on his medical school application he wrote he was "self-financed", although at the time he "did not have a dime". He paid his way through medical school by borrowing small sums of money from many people, by harvesting grapes with migrant workers in the vineyards of Southern California, and by popping popcorn for theaters at the Anderson Popcorn Factory. Dr. Foley received his hard-earned Doctor of Medicine degree in 1948. His internship was at the Gallinger Municipal Hospital, in Washington, D.C., and his residency was at Peninsula General Hospital, in Salisbury, Maryland. He believed that his medical degree provided a God-given opportunity to help others in an honored profession, which he did to the best of his ability throughout his long and distinguished medical career. While attending medical school he met and fell in love with Esther Jewel, and they were married on December 28, 1944. His love for Esther was apparent to all who knew them, and their love affair continued throughout over 63 years of marriage. He often called her "Lovey", and recently said that 63 years was "much too short a time to be married to Lovey." Dr. Foley served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, and was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, near Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Foley opened his private practice of medicine in Jacksonville, Florida in July, 1949. He practiced medicine in Jacksonville for almost 50 years, most of that time from his office at 2549 Park Street. His wife, Esther, was his first receptionist at the Park Street office, where he charged $3 per office visit when he began his successful practice. His hospital affiliations included St. Vincent's Medical Center, Baptist Medical Center, and Wolfson Children's Hospital. In 1974, Dr. Foley became a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice. From 1981 to 1987, he was Chairman of the Dept. of Family Practice at St. Vincent's Medical Center. From 1987 to 1989, he was a member of the Medical Center Planning Committee of St. Vincent's Medical Center. Among medical colleagues, Dr. Foley was known and admired for his diagnostic insight, including his often uncanny ability to diagnose and treat elusive medical ailments. In 2005, the Florida Medical Association formally recognized Dr. Foley as a "Distinguished Physician", and "A Physician Who Cares". Dr. Foley loved people, especially the thousands of patients he cared for in the Jacksonville area for almost five decades. A picture of every baby he delivered hung on his office walls, framed in either blue or pink. Dr. Foley always had prayer with each patient before he operated on them. Dr. Foley enjoyed pipe organ music, gardening, boating and water skiing on the St. Johns River, football (especially the Jaguars), and most of all, golfing with friends and family. His favorite golf memories were of golfing trips to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Calloway Gardens, Georgia, and St. Andrews, Scotland. Dr. Foley was a Christian, and he loved God. A picture of Jesus was always prominently displayed in his home and office. His favorite scripture was Philippians 4:8. His favorite Books in the Bible were James and Matthew. His favorite hymns were The Old Rugged Cross, and Amazing Grace. He was a long-time member of the Jacksonville Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he was active as an Elder, as Chairman of the Building and Plans Committee, as Chairman of the School Board, and as Medical Director of the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He was the keynote speaker at many "Stop Smoking Clinics" in Jacksonville. Dr. Foley loved his family, and his fondest memories were of family times together. He always led by example and provided his children with a loving home, a quality education, his good advice, his time and his good humor. Dr. Foley said his greatest hope was that his entire family would be together in Heaven. During the last month of his life, Dr. Foley was lovingly cared for by his daughter-in-law, Carol Foley, RN, at her home with son Joe, Jr., in Apopka, where he passed away. Dr. Foley is survived by the love of his life, wife Esther, who lives in Central Florida; son Joseph Jr. and wife Carol, of Apopka, Florida; son Douglas and wife Rebecca, of DeBary, Florida; son Greg and wife Jill, of Maitland, Florida; daughter Debbie, of Los Angeles, California. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Joseph III, Jeremy, Douglas, Tiffany, Brandon and Nikki; one great grandchild, Hannah; and a sister, Gwen Shupe, of Vancouver, Washington. Viewing for family, friends and former patients of Dr. Foley will be held on Thursday, April 5, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., at the Deltona Seventh-day Adventist Church, where son Douglas Foley is Pastor, located at 1717 Catalina Blvd., Deltona, Florida 32738. Funeral services will immediately follow at the same location, with officiating by son Douglas Foley, and by brother-in-law, Arthur Dale Leach. Burial will be in the Highland Memory Gardens, Apopka, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the Foley Family suggests that cards be sent to Esther Foley, in care of the Deltona Seventh-day Adventist Church at the address above. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com