Obituary

Dr. Robert thomas linger sr., passed away july 23, 2018 at the age of 94. He was born to maude may teter and dr r. Basil linger in 1924 in lost creek, wv.

Tom grew up in clarksburg, wv and graduated from washington irving high school in 1942 as valedictorian and entered west virginia university as a pre-med student.  he became a member of phi beta kappa (honorary) and beta theta pi (social) fraternities, and was on the track team that ran for wvu in the penn relay races.  tom graduated from wvu and went on to harvard medical school, where in 1948, he received his medical degree and was elected as permanent class president.  that same year he married betty lewis gates of charleston, wv.

The couple lived in boston, where tom spent his residency in surgery from 1949-1954 at boston city hospital.  in his final year he was chief surgical resident.  after finishing a six month residency in pathology at the new england deaconess hospital, he also had additional training in vascular surgery with dr. Michael debakey in houston, texas.  while serving his residency tom spent two years of military service in the navy during the korean war on special assignment with the cia.

In 1955 the lingers moved from boston to charleston and tom established his practice as charleston’s first vascular surgeon.  in 1984 tom was honored by camc and presented with the vincent von kern award for the surgeon making the greatest contribution to medical resident education.

After thirty years of practice, tom retired in 1984 as professor emeritus of surgery, at wvu.  he also served on the board of directors on the shawnee bank, and was involved in real estate development in charleston, wv and holden beach, nc.

Tom and betty had five children: dr. Robert thomas linger, jr. And wife ellen of charleston, wv;  susan cook and husband dr. Jeff cook of keyser, wv;  dr. William gates linger of charleston, wv;  rebecca jane nolte of malibu, ca; teresa byer and husband matt of seattle, wa;   nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  his love, sense of humor, and laughter will always carry on with our family.

The family wishes to extend a sincere and special thank you to the nurses and staff of arthur b. Hodges and hospice for the loving care they provided.  in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the alzheimer’s association, 1601 2nd avenue, charleston, wv 25387.

Memorial service will be held 11:00 a.M. Saturday, august 11, 2018 at st. Agnes catholic church, 4807 staunton avenue, se, charleston, wv 25304.

His body was donated to the human gift registry, morgantown, wv to help further medical research.

Condolences may be sent to: www.Barlowbonsall.Com

barlow bonsall funeral home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.