Obituary of Edward O. Damron

Dr. Edward O. Damron, M.D. Funeral services for Dr. Edward Oscar Damron, M.D. of Elsberry, MO were held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Paul Graven, pastor of the Elsberry United Methodist Church, officiated with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Stephen Cortelyou, John Lagemann, Dave Davis, Hugh K Steavenson, Joe Wayman and Steven Davis; and honorary pallbearers Lee Moreno, Jerry Suddarth and Rich Trammel. Dr. Damron, 92, died early Saturday morning, July 8, 2006 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Born May 16, 1914 in Elsberry (in the house where he had lived for 92 years), he was the son of Dr. James Nicholas (DDS) and Mary Melissa Metts Damron. He was a 1932 graduate of Elsberry High School; attended Hannibal LaGrange College for one year; and studied engineering for one year at Central Methodist College in Fayette, MO. He then decided he wanted to be a doctor and transferred to the University of Missouri in Columbia where he earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Medicine in 1937 and graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO in 1939. He did his internships at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis and served his residency at City Hospitals of St. Louis. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December, 1941, was commissioned a First Lieutenant on January 22, 1942, entered active duty on April 23, 1942, was promoted to Captain on July 15, 1943, and to Major on January 1, 1946. He served with the 61st Medical Battalion, D-Day Plus 1, and was named Company Commander of the 392nd Medical Collecting Company, Motorized on October 19, 1944. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged as a Major February 12, 1946. He was united in marriage on December 16, 1942 in Abilene, TX to Wanda Naomi Bradley. This union was blessed with three children: Lynn , Suzanne and Melissa. Following the War, Dr. Damron and his family returned to Elsberry. While he and Mrs. Damron were looking for a community to establish a medical practice, Dr. Forrest Keeling asked Dr. Damron to assist with his practice in Elsberry due to his failing health. Dr. Damron decided to stay and practiced medicine in Elsberry for more than 45 years, retiring in 1991. Dr. Damron held both instrument and commercial rated pilot licenses and owned several private planes over the years. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the St. Charles & Lincoln Counties Medical Association and the Antique Airplane Association. He was a 50-year member of the New Hope Lodge #199 in Elsberry, a member of the American Legion Post #226 in Elsberry, and a life-long member of the Elsberry United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. James Damron, DDS and Melissa Damron; his brother, Lloyd Damron; and his beloved wife of 60 years, Wanda Damron, who died June 18, 2003. Survivors include one son, Lynn Damron and his wife, Joyce, of Atlanta, GA; two daughters: Suzanne Suddarth of O'Fallon, MO, and Melissa Davis and her husband, Dave, of Leavenworth, KS; six grandchildren: Kim Damron and her husband, Lee Moreno, of Tallahassee, FL, Brad Suddarth of Houston, TX, Julie Suddarth of Troy, OH, Scott Davis of Chicago, IL, Mark Davis and Steven Davis, both of Leavenworth, KS; and one great-grandson, Kayden Damron Moreno. He also leaves one sister, Sarah Louise Cortelyou of Troy, MO; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, July 10, 2006 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Joseph R. Palmer Memorial Library or to the American Legion Ball Field in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.