Dr. Walter Abel German, Jr. Dr. Walter A. German, Jr. died at 7:20 p. m., Monday, January 11, 2010 at St. John's Hospital, following a battle with cancer. His wife, Taney Jean German, died eight months earlier. Dr. German was born August 4, 1924 to Walter and Doris German. His father was also a physician and a military veteran, and Walter followed in those footsteps. As a military family, the Germans had several residences over the early years. Dr. German attended undergraduate school and medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating with his M. D. degree in 1951. He and Taney Jean married in July 1950. Following medical school, Walter and Taney moved to Miami, Florida for a one year internship, and then to Atlanta, Georgia where Walter completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He was certified in this specialty by the American College of OB/GYN in 1958. Walter and Taney moved to Springfield, Missouri in 1955 and have considered Springfield and the Ozarks to be their home. Walter was extremely proud to be a U. S. Army veteran, and he will be buried with military honors. During World War II, he served 30 months in the 26th Infantry Division as Staff Sergeant in the Front Line Battalion Aid Station. He was awarded the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, five Battle Stars, the Purple Heart, and badges for Combat Infantry and Conduct. It was this service in the medical corps that drove Walter's desire to return home and attend medical school. Later in life, Walter co-authored a book describing the role and actions of a Battalion Aid Station in the European Theater of World War II, and this book is now displayed publicly in The U. S. Army Museum in Washington, D. C. In his medical practice at the Smith Glynn Callaway Clinic and at the Springfield hospitals, Walter delivered 9,148 babies into this world over the course of his career. He founded the clinic's OB/GYN department in 1955 and practiced there for 39 years. And he treated thousands of women as patients over those years with the quiet confidence and technical competence for which he was known. Walter was a lifetime member of the Greene County Medical Society, and was a past president. He was active in the Missouri State Medical Association and served for years on the executive council, including president in 1985. Walter was the Missouri delegate to the American Medical Association, and was chair of the Missouri delegation to the AMA in 1993. He was active in the professional organizations associated with the Springfield hospitals, and as a member of the board of directors and foundation of the Smith Glynn Callaway Clinic. And he was a past president of both the Springfield and the Missouri OB/GYN Societies. Walter also believed strongly that the medical community should be part of and active in the larger civic community, and he and Taney were regular volunteers in many civic organizations. Walter served for years on the executive committee of Blue Cross/St. Louis. He was president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. He served on the executive committee of the Springfield United Fund, and for twelve years on the Springfield Industrial Development Board. He was a member of the Ozarks Medicine Business Coalition and of the Southwest Missouri Perinatal Consortium. In 1985, Walter received a Certificate of Merit from both the Springfield City Council and the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri. And in 1991, he was recognized with the Physician of the Year Award by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to the many patients he served over the course of his distinguished career. Walter and Taney were members of the Kingsway Methodist Church and Hickory Hills Country Club. Walter's life apart from medicine was very diverse. He was an avid golfer and sports fan. He and Taney traveled the world during their 59 years together. Walter was an avid reader and scholar, and he followed closely developments in science and medicine in many different fields. Walter loved the Ozarks and for years kept a house on Table Rock Lake where the family would gather frequently over the years. And most important of all, Walter's main priority was his familyhis wife and two children were his center, and despite an active and time-consuming career he was always there for the family as a powerful and thoughtful source of strength and commitment. Walter is survived by his two children and four grandchildren. Charles and Jan German live in Kansas City, Sarah German lives and works in Minneapolis, and Charles Jr. lives and works in Kansas City. Tracy and Don Meehan live in Chicago. Mike Meehan attends college at Southern Illinois University, and Jack Meehan is completing high school and beginning the college search. The family wishes to thank the surgical and ICU staff at St. John's Hospital for their highly-skilled and devoted care during Walter's final illness. A memorial service will be held at King's Way United Methodist Church at 12:30 p.m. Friday, January 15, 2010, with Jon Spalding presiding, under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery. No visitation is planned. In lieu of flowers or gifts, contributions may be made to the charity or foundation of choice.