Dr. Wilson Thomas Sowder

SOWDER Dr. Wilson Thomas Sowder, 96, died peacefully on Friday, February 16, 2007, a few days before his 97th birthday. He was born February 27, 1910 in Callaway, Virginia, the son of John Harvey and Mary Catherine Webb Sowder. He had lived in Jacksonville more than 60 years. A memorial service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 5116 Atlantic Blvd., with the Reverend Richard M. Turk. A reception and visitation time will be held in the parish hall immediately following the service until 4:30pm. At a later date, a memorial service will be held at St. Peter's-in-the-Mountains Episcopal Church, Callaway, Virginia, followed by interment. Dr. Sowder was predeceased by his beloved wife of more than 70 years, Lucille Marguerite Leslie Sowder, who died in July 2004, aged 96. He is survived by his three children: Dr. Wilson Thomas Sowder, Jr. (Zoraida) of Fort Lauderdale; Jane Sowder Palmer (Harvey) and James Leslie Sowder (Rita) of Jacksonville; by his eight grandchildren: John Riley Sowder, Paul Leslie Sowder, Amy Elizabeth Sowder, Kathleen Lucille Palmer Slama (Robert), Laura Leslie Palmer, David Thomas Palmer (Stacie), Edward Rugg Sowder, and Anne Marie Sowder Chance (Tony); and by his two great-grandchildren: Max Charles Rocha and Adam Vincent Slama. He is also survived by the last of his eleven siblings, his brother, Judge John Sowder of Providence Forge, Virginia, and a number of nieces and nephews. Dr. Sowder received his early education at the Phoebe Needles School in Callaway, Virginia and the Blue Ridge School in St. George, Virginia. He attended the University of Virginia for undergraduate pre-medical studies, and received his M.D. degree in 1932 from the University of Virginia Medical School. He interned at the University Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa, where he met and married Lucille, an R.N., and served a residency at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco before receiving a commission in the U.S. Public Health Service in 1934. Dr. Sowder served at Marine Hospitals in Baltimore and Seattle, with the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska, and at the U.S. Quarantine Station on Angel Island/San Francisco before receiving his Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. He then served in Tennessee, Pensacola, Tampa, and Jacksonville before being assigned to the Navy and the War Shipping Administration as a Consultant on Preventable Diseases during World War II. In 1945 Dr. Sowder was given a leave of absence without pay from the U.S. Public Health Service to become the State Health Officer of Florida, in which capacity he served for many years, reappointed by a number of governors. During his tenure as State Health Officer, with the dedication of the many health workers throughout the state, Florida came to be considered a model in the field of public health. He served as president of the Florida Public Health Association, the American Association ofPublic Health Physicians, the State and Territorial Health Officers Association, as Chairman of the Preventive Medicine Section of the American Medical Association, and as a member of the U.S. delegation to the World Health Organization, at different times during his career. During his retirement years, Dr. Sowder enjoyed travel, his grandchildren, gardening, the study of several languages, and working on family history. Although he loved Florida, he never forgot his Virginia roots, and spent much of his time there until he was no longer able to travel. He also wrote a book about his life and career. The family very much appreciates the caring ministry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where Dr. Sowder was a member for 60 years. We would like to thank his excellent caregivers: Rita Carter, Debreah Fageol, Ruth Hinkle, Phyllis Partridge, Elizabeth Pettigrew, and Devina Thomas. We would also like to thank E. Russell Jackson, Jr., Dr. Richard D. Glock and his staff, the excellent staff ofLife Care of Jacksonville, Community Hospice, and Drs. Camacho and Decker for their care. A man of integrity, honor, humor, faith, and love of family, Dr. Sowder will be greatly missed. If desired, memorial contributions in Dr. Sowder's name may be made to one of the following: The Florida Medical Association Foundation for the Florida Museum of Medicine and Public Health, P.O. Box 10269, Tallahassee, FL 32302; The Wilson T. and Lucille L. Sowder Scholarship Fund, c/o The Phoebe Needles Center, 732 Turners Creek Road, Callaway, VA 24067-5814 (540-483-1518); St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 5616 Atlantic Blvd., 32207; or St. Peter's-in-the-Mountains Episcopal Church, 65 Rock Ridge Road, Callaway, VA 24067. Arrangements are under the direction of GREENLAWN FUNERAL HOME, 4300 Beach Blvd. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com