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- Donald ("Don") Gibson Kilgore, Jr., M.D., 82, husband of Jean Augur Kilgore, passed away in Greenville on March 8, 2010.
Beloved by his family and friends, Don served the Greenville community for over 50 years, as a medical doctor, civic leader and servant to those less fortunate. Born in Dallas, Texas on November 21, 1927, Don was the son of Donald Gibson and Gladys Watson Kilgore. Don left Highland Park High School at 15 and Southern Methodist University at 18, and enrolled in Southwestern Medical College in Dallas in 1945. He then interned at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Don began his Pathology residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1950 where he met Jean Augur. They were married at Jean's parents' church in Decatur, Georgia on August 23, 1952. Don entered the United States Air Force Medical Corps in 1954 and was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Don completed his service in 1956 and was honorably discharged as a Captain. Don moved to Greenville with Jean and their family in 1956 to join Dr. Arthur Dreskin in the practice of Pathology. Don and Art formed Pathology Associates, still home to many distinguished pathologists.
During his 40 year medical practice, Don sought to bring a high level of health care to the Greenville community. He was a Fellow of the American Society of Dermatopathology; a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists; a Life Member of the College of American Pathologists; a Life Member of the American Association of Blood Banks; a member of the National Association of Medical Examiners; a member of the American College of Nuclear Medicine; and a member of the American Society of Cytology. The South Carolina Medical Society elected Don to serve as its 1974-75 President and he was a long-time South Carolina Delegate to the American Medical Association. He served the medical profession many years as a Board member of the South Carolina Patient Compensation Fund. The Greenville County Dental Society named Don an Honorary Life Member as a tribute to his efforts to promote public water fluoridation in the 1960s. Don had an equally significant impact on civic life in Greenville. Don helped lead in the desegregation of the Greenville YMCA in the 1960s and the construction of its Cleveland Street campus. Member of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce's Education Task Force from 1965 to 1970, and selected its Chair, Don worked with other leaders to peaceably desegregate Greenville's public schools. Don was elected Trustee of the Greenville County School Board in 1970, a position he held for 20 years. Don's proudest accomplishment as a Trustee was the establishment of the Roper Mountain Science Center. After retiring as Trustee, Don served on the Roper Mountain Board for many years. Don received the A.H. Robins Award for Outstanding Community Service in 1985. Governor David Beasley awarded Don the Order of the Palmetto in 1996. Don and Jean joined Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1956 where they have both served faithfully. Don was elected Deacon in 1961, Elder in 1969, and Trustee in 2001.
A lifelong learner, Don had many outside interests including: history (member of the Greenville County Historical Society, the Historic Greenville Foundation, the South Carolina Historical Society and the Richard III Society); numismatics (member of the American Numismatic Society and the Blue Ridge Numismatic Society); heritage (member of the St. Andrew Society of Upper South Carolina, and Clans Douglas and McDuff); food and wine (member and Bailli of the Greenville chapter of the Confrerie de la Chaine de Rotisseurs and member of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin); and travels with Jean to Egypt, Hawaii, Alaska and Europe. Don especially enjoyed friends and fellowship. He was a member of the Club of 39, the Torch Club, and the Piedmont Economics Club. Don joined the Downtown Rotary Club in August 1957, had 52 ½ years of perfect attendance, and was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Don was a member of the Poinsett Club, the Commerce Club, and the Greenville Country Club.
Don is survived by Jean, his wife of 57 ½ years; his four sons, Michael Augur Kilgore of Greenville; his son Stephen Bassett Kilgore of Clinton, South Carolina; Phillip Arthur Kilgore, Sr., wife Aline Crews Kilgore and their children, Harriet and Phillip Jr., of Greenville; G. Scott Kilgore, Sr., wife Susan Dacus Kilgore and their children, Geoffrey Scott Jr. and Ellen, of Greenville; his daughter Sharon Louise Kilgore of Greenville; his brother Bassett Blanton Kilgore of Dallas, Texas; and many nieces and nephews. Don was predeceased by his sister Hope.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2310 Augusta Street in Greenville, after which the family will receive friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Blue Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America (Camp Old Indian Chapel Fund), 1 Park Plaza, Greenville, South Carolina 29607, to Brookgreen Gardens, P.O. Box 3368, Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585, or to the cause of your choice. Obituary and online guest register at www.mackeymortuary.com The Mackey Mortuary, 311 Century Drive, Greenville.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1927 - 2010 (82 years)