DR. JOHN ETHERINGTON
June 21, 1909-Feb. 2, 2006
Dr. John Lawrence Etherington, 96, died Thursday, February 2, following a long illness.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, led by the Rev. Drew Clark and the Rev. Ryan Rasmussen. A reception will follow in McChesney Hall for the family to receive friends. Private burial will follow at Willow Dale Cemetery.
Dr. Etherington was the third of seven children born to Dr. Edward J. and Ada Gibsone Etherington in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he earned both undergraduate and medical degrees. For four years he served a residency at Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital in New York City. He began medical practice in Statesville, N.C., at Davis Hospital, serving two years before locating in Goldsboro in 1946.
Dr. Etherington was a member of American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Otolaryngology. He was honored with a Life Membership in the North Carolina Medical Society, having served the citizens of this state for over 50 years. He was an associate professor at UNC-Chapel Hill for 10 years. He was a regional director of the North Carolina Eye Bank for eight years, continuing to serve in sending eyes for future use from designated donors. He was honored by the Wayne County Medical Society's naming him to the Honorary Staff in 1993 at his retirement, having practiced for many years beyond the usual retirement.
In prior years he was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and led the Sesquicentennial Cele-bration in 2005, being the oldest living member of the congregation. He also gave generously of his time and talents to civic endeavors, mindful of his responsibilities. His years have shown that his time here was well-spent.
Survivors with cherished memories are his wife of fifty-six years, Joan Fraley Etherington; a son, John Etherington Jr. of Atlanta; two daughters, Frances Etherington Abbott of Asheville and Joan A. Etherington Lillich and husband, David Lillich, of Clifton, Va.; a brother, Mark J. Etherington of Toronto, Ontario; a sister-in-law, Prudence F. Strong, and husband, Alan F. Strong; a brother-in-law, C. Eugene Fraley, and wife, Charlotte, of Atlantic Beach, N.C.; two granddaughters, Morgan Leigh Etherington of Athens, Ga., and Lindsay Alexander Lillich of Clifton, Va.; a large number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding him in death were his parents, three brothers, and two sisters of Toronto.
Memorials may be directed to Wayne Community College Foundation for Nursing Scholarships, P.O. Box 8002, Goldsboro, 27533; or First Presbyterian Church, for Scholarships, 1101 E. Ash St., 27530.
Published in Obituaries on February 3, 2006 2:16 PM