(From Parker Mortuary)
George W. Chesney, MD, age 98 of Joplin, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Freeman Hospital surrounded by family.
Born October 30, 1923 in La Harpe, Kansas to the late George Robert and Ladema Idelle Chesney. The family moved to Neosho, Missouri in 1929.
Growing up in Neosho, he was active in Boy Schouts and earned his Eagle Scout in the Fall of 1940. Upon graduating Neosho High School in 1941, he attended Joplin Junior College and later transferred to the University of Missouri in Columbia to continue his undergraduate/premed studies.
After two years in Columbia, he was called to serve in the United States Navy as a Pharmacist’s Mate 3rd Class at the Naval Base in San Diego, California from 12/27/1943 to 06/01/1946. After his naval service, he returned to his medical studies at the University of Louisville (Kentucky)where he received his MD in 1950. While in Louisville, he met Judith C. Moorman who he later married on June 17, 1950.
The newly wed couple then moved to St. Louis, Missouri where George attended a general internship at Deaconess Hospital. After completion of his one-year internship, he was asked to serve his country once again. This time he was called to serve in the United States Air Force.
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He transferred to Flight Surgeon School in San Antonio, Texas. After completion, he served as a Captain/Flight Surgeon for England Air Force Base/Tactical Air Command in Alexandria, Louisiana from 09/01/1951 to 08/31/1953. While there, George and Judith had their first son.
The young family then moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where George entered residency training in Anesthesiology. In 1955 he and his family moved to Joplin to begin his medical practice. He was the first residency trained Anesthesiologist in Joplin, providing service to St. John’s and Freeman Hospitals as well as Baxter Memorial Hospital (Kansas) for the next 40 years.
Among his accomplishments, Dr. Chesney bowled a perfect 300 game while bowling with the R.G.S. Engineering Team (Lucky Dozen League) on November 13, 1972. It was the first at Plaza Lanes in Joplin, and only the second 300 game in the history of the Greater Joplin Men’s Bowling Association/Joplin Bowling Hall of Fame at the time.
On February 12, 1967, Dr. Chesney was the keynote speaker at the Mo-Kan Area Eagle Scout recognition dinner. He presented a movie of an African Safari, which he made while accompanying friends on a hunting trip to Angola.
During retirement he enjoyed reading, gardening, walking, Cardinal’s baseball on the radio, activities with his grandsons, and Tuesday mornings with friends of the “McDonalds Coffee Crew”.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Judith, his wife of 70 years.
Survivors include his sons, Robert David Chesney of Joplin, John Wayne Chesney, MD and wife Marcia of Joplin; grandsons, Alexander Joseph Chesney and wife Whitley of Pittsburg, Kansas and Andrew David Chesney of Norman, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association care of Parker Mortuary.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
