Dr. Gilbert D. Jay III

Dr. Gilbert D. Jay III, retired general surgeon and diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, passed away at the age of 92 on Oct. 15, 2012, in Fayetteville, Ark. Dr. Gilbert (better known as Gib) was born Feb. 7, 1920, in South Bend, Ind. He was the son of Gilbert D. Jay Jr. and Helen Lent Jay of Philadelphia, Pa. On Aug. 13, 1942, he married Mary Frances Bowers in Old Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pa. As a young man, Dr. Jay earned the rank of Eagle Scout and as a senior at South Bend Central received acclaim for achieving a perfect score in Indiana on the SAT and received a scholarship to Yale, which he declined. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, both the Moore School of Engineering and Medical School, earning a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a doctorate of medicine. He was a member of three honorary electrical engineering fraternities and was a past president of Nu Sigma Nu Medical Fraternity. During World War II, he served two years as a flight surgeon and then finished his medical training in surgery at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Mich. On completion of his residency, Dr. Jay opened a medical practice in West Memphis, Ark., becoming the first surgeon to service the Crittenden County area. Dr. Jay was in practice for 35 years. While residing in West Memphis he was a member of 1st Presbyterian Church and the Chamber of Commerce, presenting him with their Man of the Year Award in 1952. He was also member, past president and was named a Paul Harris Scholar in Rotary International. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Bowers Jay; his son, Charles Bowers Jay and his wife, Karen, of Round Rock, Texas; three daughters, Helen Renee Webb and her husband, Nick, of Oxford, Miss., Atara Sue Hunter of Lafayette, Ind., and Judith Lent Porter and her husband, Kim, of Georgetown, Ky.; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Edwin Lent Jay; and his son, Gilbert D. Jay IV. Dr Jay's body has been donated to the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. There will be no memorial service here; the celebration will take place in Heaven. Memorial contributions may be made to: Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, 1378 June Self Drive, Bethel Heights, AR 72764. Arrangements are under the direction of Moore's Chapel in Fayetteville.