Dr. Edward Rutledge Gish

He was born in St. Louis to Edward Clarence Gish and Bessie Chalfant Rutledge Gish. He was married on July 9, 1938 in St. Louis to Miriam Josephine Slicker (Germ. Schlicker) who died on April 23, 1996. Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Ann Rutledge Gish Champion, Omaha, Nebraska; and Mary Priscilla Gish Devous-Chojnacki and Leon Chojnacki, Dallas, Texas; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Weston, Charles, Kingdon, and Gareth Gish; and three sisters, Louise Killion; Alma LaRose; and Virginia Arink Craig. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Fulton; a past-president of the Missouri Symphony Society and an endowing benefactor; fellow of the American College of Surgeons; an affiliate member of the Royal Society of London; and served as Medical Director of the Callaway County Civil Defense. He was a member of the International College of Surgeons; American Medical Association; Missouri Medical Society; Callaway County Medical Society; American Law Enforcement Association; National Board of Directors of the Red Poll Breeders Association; and contributed articles to professional journals. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity at Westminster College; Alpha Omega Alpha medical fraternity; Board of Directors of the University of Missouri Library; and was a supporting alumnus of St. Louis University and a member of the St. Louis University Dubourg Society. At the age of 77 he served as co-captain of the US Team World Masters Cross-country Ski Associaton in 1985; was a competitive-grade chess player; and was a proficient musician in voice and piano. In 1989 he authored a book entitled, "Plantagenet Portraits in Stone: Unique XII Century". In lieu of flowers, memorials my be made in the name of E. Rutledge Gish, MD, to the Missouri Symphony Society, P.O. Box 1121, Ninth and Locust, Columbia, Missouri 65205. He was a Lieutemant Colonel in the United States Army during World War II, 1943-1946, serving as Chief of Septic and General Surgery Section, 70th General Hospital in Africa and Italy. In 1964 he was appointed by former Governor Warren Hearnes as a Reserve Honorary Colonel of the Governor's Staff. Dr. Gish received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1930 from Westminster College; the Doctor of Medicine degree from St. Louis University Medical School in 1935; and the Master of Surgery degree from St. Louis University in 1939. While practicing as a physician and surgeon in Eldorado, Illinois, he served as Senior Instructor in Surgery at St. Louis University Medical School from 1939 to 1943. In 1946 he established a private medical practice in Fulton, Missouri until his retirment in 1989.