Obituary of John Hampton MD

John Ellis Hampton, MD, age 91, died in his Washington, NJ home on December 8, 2012. He lived in Washington since 1949 when he joined the Washington Clinic medical practice, which later became the Warren Hills Family Practice. His beloved wife of nearly 68 years, Marian Catharine Kreider Hampton, preceded him in death on June 9, 2012. John was born in Palymra, PA on March 23, 1921 to the late E. Francis and Martha V. Poorman Hampton. He attended Palmyra High School until his senior year, but graduated from Shippensburg (PA) High School in 1939. He attended Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA and graduated early in 1943, as he was accepted into medical school at the University of Pennsylvania on a scholarship awarded by the US Navy, serving with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. After graduation from medical school in 1946, he was first assigned to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital and later served at Portsmouth Naval Base Hospital in Kittery, Maine. Dr. Hampton came to Washington, NJ when he joined Dr. William Varney and Dr. Frank Bartolini in their practice of general medicine, which included making house calls. His interest and training in radiology allowed the Washington Clinic to provide comprehensive x-ray services. For 23 years, he assisted mothers in delivering over 400 babies. He had medical privileges at Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, NJ for 43 years, serving terms as president of the medical staff. He was instrumental in establishing Warren Hospital's first coronary care unit. For 35 years, he served as school physician for the Washington, NJ school district and athletic physician for Washington High School and later Warren Hills Regional High School. He was on the advisory board of Mt. Kipp TB Sanitarium and was plant physician for the American Can Corporation, Washington, NJ. His community service project as a member of the Washington Lions Club gave impetus to the development of Warren County's Public Health Nursing Agency, where he later served on its board and worked at their Well Baby Clinics. He served on a review board for the Washington Building and Loan Association and occasionally wrote a column for a Consumer's Research publication. One of his most far reaching accomplishments was bringing attention to community leaders of the need for a state-of-the art facility to attract family practitioners to the area. In the early 1980s, he completed a course in mammography at Harvard University. Dr. Hampton retired from practicing medicine in 1993, at the age of 72. In retirement, he accompanied his wife as a Meals-On-Wheels volunteer. John had a passion for photography, sailing, reading, cooking, classical music, opera, and literature. At age 15, he had his own photography business, developing photographs for Pickel's Drug Store in Palmyra, PA. He was yearbook photographer for his high schools and college. He taught himself to sail and captained a 37 foot sailboat out of Rock Hall, MD. He excelled at household building projects and repairs and enjoyed working outdoors. He was proud that the pine trees he planted 40 years ago are now a mature forest. John Hampton was an accomplished, hardworking, principled man from humble beginnings. He exhibited high professional and personal standards with great intellect and commitment to individuality. He was a dedicated, respected, and skilled medical doctor and was devoted to his wife and family. He will continue to serve as an inspiration to his family and fellow medical professionals, while leaving behind a great impact on his community. John is survived by three daughters: Cynthia Lee of Washington, NJ, Jessica Miller and her husband Andrew of Lebanon Township, NJ, and Joan Fraser and her husband Loran of Alexandria, VA. He is also survived by his grandchildren Brian Lee, Jennifer Lee Knittel, Kate Miller Doyle, Laura Miller, Jessica Fraser Sotelo, and Benjamin Fraser, and great grandson Jonathan Knittel, as well as seven nephews and one niece. Along with his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Watson. Calling hours will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, December 14, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church, 40 East Church St., Washington, NJ. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 am. Interment will be in Gravel Hill Cemetery, Palmyra, PA at 11:00 am on December 15, 2012. Memorial donations in John E. Hampton's name may be made to the Washington Emergency Squad, 100 Belvidere Avenue, Washington, NJ 07882 or to Visiting Homemakers Service (Meals At Home Program) PO Box 306, Washington, NJ 07882.