Charles P. Wofford

Dr. Charles Parker Wofford, MD, aged 101, of Colonial Hills Retirement Center, Johnson City passed away on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. Born in 1908, Dr. Charles Wofford 'Charlie'?, was a native of Washington County, TN and the son of the late George and Florence Harris Wofford. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Harris Wofford, George Torrey Wofford, and Alan Wofford; three wives, Helen 'Polly'? Dyson Wofford in 1959, Helen Hunter Hall Wofford in 1993, and Minnie Dunlap Fuller Wofford in 2008; and one daughter, Mary Wofford Hathaway. Charlie was a living link to Johnson Citys past. His childhood memories of Johnson City included days when the roads were unpaved, horses were tied up along the houses on Unaka Avenue, the Gump Addition was a golf course and when many of the citys institutions did not exist. Throughout his life, Charlie exemplified the best aspects of service and Christian faith. His life was guided by a love of his community, a dedication of service, a vital sense of the value of hard work, a sparkling sense of humor and an unflagging optimism. He was a devoted son, a loving husband and a caring father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He proudly served his community for over 80 years as a Boy Scout, a physician, a Kiwanian, and an avid supporter of the arts. His goodwill for those around him and the community he lived in will be remembered long after his death. Charlie graduated from the Hill School (Pennsylvania) in 1928, Princeton University in 1932, and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1936. Charlie married Helen 'Polly'? Dyson, in Hazelton, PA in 1937 and moved back to Johnson City in 1940. Charlie and Polly had two children, Mary Dyson Wofford and John Charles Wofford. Charlie practiced medicine in Johnson City until the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Charlie volunteered for the Army Medical Corps. Polly, a board certified physician, managed his medical practice and treated his patients while Charlie was at war. Charlie served in the North African, Sicilian, and Italian Campaigns in WW II. His unit followed the vanguard of the allied invasion force, treating the wounded in mobile surgical hospitals. Following the capture of Rome, Charlie served at the citys main hospital until his tour of duty was up in 1946, at the rank of Major. Despite the hardships of war, Charlies time in Italy always remained a special memory for him. After WW II, he founded a private practice which soon became 'Wofford, McKinnon, Hall and Ellis'? and eventually 'The Medical Group'?. Charlie retired in 1985 from the Medical Group, which had moved from Fairview Avenue to the new Johnson City Medical Center complex. Following Pollys death in 1959, Charlie married Helen Hunter Hall. Charlie and Helen spent 33 happy years together, living in Johnson City and had a broad circle of friends. Helen lost her life to cancer in 1993. In 1995, at the age of 86, Charlie married Minnie Dunlap Fuller of Johnson City. Charlie and Minnie spent their golden years traveling and maintained an active social life and were dedicated supporters of the arts. Charlie devoted himself to a number of organizations and avocations. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Johnson City(past president), St Johns Episcopal Church (Senior Warden), Johnson City Symphony, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Washington County (TN) Medical Society, and the Hurstleigh Club. Charlie was an outdoorsman and an avid golfer. He hunted bear, deer and game birds and remained an active bird hunter well into his 80s. As a golfer he shot his age in 1996- a blistering 88. Of all his accomplishments, however, none can match the reward Charlie felt from the friendships and family ties that he cultivated during his life. He will be deeply missed by his friends and family and will always be remembered as a gentleman. Charlie is survived by a son John Charles Wofford and his wife Judy of Linville, NC; a step-son, John R. 'Duke'? Hall and his wife Kathy of Johnson City; a step-daughter, Becky Hall of Frankfort, KY; four nieces, Florence 'Fa'? Wofford Liddell, Gail Wofford Bergeret, both of New York, Ann Townsend of Ohio and Carole Wofford Howard of California; four nephews, Bill Wofford and George Wofford of California, Harris Wofford, Jr. of Washington, DC and Jack Wofford of Massachusetts; in addition to five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. The family of Charles P. Wofford, MD will receive friends at St. Johns Episcopal Church on Friday, January 22, 2010 from 3 PM to 6 PM. A Memorial Service will be conducted at 11 AM Saturday at St. Johns Episcopal Church with the Rev. Hal Hutchison and the Rev. Margaret Zeller, officiating. Interment of the cremains will follow in the Monte Vista Memorial Park. Honorary pallbearers will be Ben D. Hall, MD, C.E. Parker, Robert M. Rowan, Hunt W. Archer, Bill Stewart, Frederic H. Brandt, Charles Ed Allen, MD, W. Richard McGowan, MD, and Charles P. Cole, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to: the Johnson City Public Library, 100 W. Millard Street, Johnson City, TN 37604, Dawn of Hope, 2216 Eddie Williams Road, Johnson City, TN 37604, or to St. Johns Episcopal Church Building Fund, 500 N. Roan Street, Johnson City, TN 37604.