Dr. James Fairchild

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Dr. James F. Fairchild, 78, of Perryville died Tuesday, July 19, 2005, at his home.

He was born April 25, 1927, in Nashville, Ark., son of James and Rubye Anne Nowell Fairchild. He and Anna Margaret Graff were married Dec. 25, 1951. She died Oct. 28, 1992.

Fairchild was a 1945 graduate of Perryville High School, then served in the Naval Reserves until 1947.

He received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Missouri in 1950, bachelor of science degree in pre-med in 1951, and his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed his internship/residency at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis in 1953.

Fairchild returned to Perryville, where he practiced 44 years, retiring in 1999. He delivered more than 2,000 babies at Perry County Memorial Hospital.

After board certification in family practice, he became a lifetime member of Missouri Academy of Family Practice, serving as president in 1988-1989.

He mentored numerous University of Missouri medical students as preceptors at Perry County Hospital.

After retiring he served many years on the Perry County Board of Mental Health. He was instrumental in supporting, planning, managing and developing the medical and mental health system at Perry County Hospital.

He was a member of First Baptist Church and served in numerous capacities, was a past president of Perryville Lions Club, and honorary member of Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow.

Survivors include four sons, James Fairchild Jr. of Columbia, Mo., Scott Fairchild of Allen, Texas, Peter Fairchild of Aiken, S.C., Andrew Fairchild of Belleville, Mich.; a daughter, Margaret Gebhardt of St. Louis; a sister, Betty Romig of Perryville; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.

Friends may call at Young and Sons Funeral Home from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, and 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dennis Cebulak officiating. Burial will be in Home Cemetery.