Obituary of Carl Henry Cather

Dr. Carl H. Cather, Jr., age 88, from Morgantown, WV, has passed away on July 3, 2017, at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital after a short illness.

He was born in Morgantown, WV, on September 16, 1928 to Carl H. Cather and Lucille Heltzel Cather. Carl married Glenna Grose Cather of Alderson, WV, on July 17, 1953.

Carl attended Morgantown High School, and West Virginia University where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He completed the first 2 years of his medical education at WVU and then finished his MD degree at Harvard Medical School. He completed an internship at Cincinnati General Hospital and then joined the US Navy and became a flight surgeon. After a residency in Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) in Pittsburgh, Carl returned to his hometown to establish a private practice in Morgantown. For quite a while he was the only ENT physician for central and northern WV. He established the Morgantown ENT clinic that included 3 physicians and the clinic later joined WVU. Carl served on the Board of the Monongalia General Hospital. He established and served as the first chairman of the ENT Department at the WVU School of Medicine while still maintaining a private practice. Carl was instrumental in getting the state of WV to perform hearing screenings for pre-school children as well as for adults in the work force. He furthered ENT education on a national level by teaching ENT courses yearly in Texas.

Carl wanted his patients to know that he felt privileged to take care of them through the years. He never met a stranger and we often heard him saying “Where are you from?”.  He was a mentor to his children and grandchildren, and he loved having family dinner get togethers for any reason. He was an avid reader and golfer and loved tracking the weather. He said he had lived a really wonderful life.

 

Carl is survived by Glenna his wife of nearly 64 years. He has 4 children, G. Anne Cather & husband Edward Etzel, Carl H Cather, III, & his wife Victoria Liberatore, Tyler Cather, who predeceased him, and Joan Carol Cather, all of Morgantown. He leaves 6 grandchildren, Allison Reed Hayes and husband Brendan Hayes, Caitlin Rose Cather, Taylor Cather Cutlip, Drew Arthur Cather, Aaron David Cather and Andrew Asher Cather.

 

Carl will be cremated as per his wishes. Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home,  153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV on  Thursday, July 6th from 4pm until the time of the memorial service at 7pm with Dr. George Moses officiating.

 

The family would like to thank the Hospice of WVUH for their support and kindness through his hospital stay. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the WVU Foundation, Att: ENT Department, One Waterfront Place, Morgantown, WV 26501

 

Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.

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