Robert L. Stockton, M.D.

ROBERT L. STOCKTON, M.D. Robert L. Stockton, M.D. died Friday, September 6, 2002 in Waco. A memorial service will be held at 10:00am Monday, September 9 at Seventh and James Baptist Church with Dr. Raymond Bailey officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6-8pm Sunday, September 8 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque Blvd. Robert L. Stockton was born June 12, 1932 in Bethany, Oklahoma to Frank Howard Stockton and Lola Abbott Stockton. After graduating from high school, he served with the Oklahoma 45th Infantry Division in Korea from 1950 to 1952. Between 1953 and 1957 he was in the 120th Medical Battalion, 45th Infantry Division and the 4155th Army Reserve Service Unit USAR School, Staff and Faculty. Upon returning from military service, he completed a B.S. degree at Central State College, now the University of Central Oklahoma, and was admitted to the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in Oklahoma City. In 1957, he and Sylvia Davis of Oklahoma City were married, and recently observed their 45th wedding anniversary. Completion of his M.D. degree in 1959 was followed by an Internship and one year of General Surgery Residency at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. A Neurological Surgery Residency at Parkland City-County Hospital, Dallas, was delayed for one year by the mobilization of the 49th Armored Division of Texas in response to the Berlin crisis of 1961. During this time he served with the 117th Medical Battalion, 49th Armored Division, New Boston, Texas, and Fort Polk, Louisiana. Following the completion of his Neurological Surgery Residency in 1966, he practiced in Fort Worth, Texas, and later in Waco, Texas, until the mid 1990’s. He completed U. S. Army Flight Surgeons School, followed by U. S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1967, U. S. Army Flight Surgeons School in 1968, certification by the Board of Neurological Surgeons in 1971 and the U.S. Army War College in 1974. During his career with the 49th Armored Division of Texas, he served as Brigade Surgeon, Flight Surgeon, Group Flight Surgeon, Division Surgeon/Medical Battalion Commander and Commander of the HQ Medical Section. He was the recipient of the National Guard Association of Texas Minute Man Award in 1973 and retired in 1992 with the rank of Colonel. He was a member of the McLennan County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, Christian Medical Society, Southern Medical Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Southern Neurosurgical Society and the Association of U. S. Army Flight Surgeons. He was a member of Seventh and James Baptist Church, where he served as deacon and church greeter. He was past president of the Central Texas Genealogical Society, served on the Board of Directors, conducted classes for beginning genealogists, and was a Waco McLennan-County Library volunteer in the genealogy section. In addition to his genealogical interests, during retirement he was an active participant in the Meals On Wheels program, the Cedar Ridge Neighborhood Association, served as docent at the Taylor Museum of Waco History, and was guest lecturer in various high school and college classes. He was pre-deceased by his father and a sister, Lula Jean Stockton. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Davis Stockton, daughter and son-in-law, Sheryl and Robert T. Swanton, Jr. of Waco, son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Melissa Lasser Stockton of Denver, Colorado, grandchildren, Hillary Swanton and Conner Swanton of Waco, mother, Lola Abbott Stockton of Pryor, Oklahoma, sister and brother-in-law, Frances and Harold Ritter of Pryor, Oklahoma, mother-in-law, Bessie McDanel Davis of Edmond, Oklahoma, sister-in-law, Gloria Tate of Edmond, Oklahoma, and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorials may be made to Meals On Wheels through the Central Texas Senior Ministry or charity of choice. The family will be at the home of Rob and Sheryl Swanton. Memorial guestbook at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY