Dr. Joseph E. Walther

When Joseph E. Walther, Sr. and his wife, Winona (McCampbell), welcomed their son Joseph, they could never have imagined the success he would achieve. As a native of Rushville, Indiana , young Joseph first excelled as an athlete, mastering basketball, football, and track without so much as an extra gasp of air. So talented was the young star that he qualified for the 1932 Olympic Games-the 400 m hurdles to be exact. As an adult Joseph's athletic ability never wavered. In addition to being a scratch golfer, he became the city champion in tennis. Joseph's tremendous success on the game field was only surpassed by his remarkable career. In 1936 he graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine, specializing in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Over the next few years, Dr. Walther did not just practice medicine, he worked to establish medical outlets so that quality care could reach more and more people in the Indianapolis community. His various titles and memberships reflected his dedication. They are listed as follows: Diplomat, National Board of Examiners, 1940; Diplomat, Boards I.M. and G.E., 1943; Founder and President of Doctors' Offices, Inc., 1947 to present; Assistant Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine from 1948 to present, where he authored scientific articles, including a chapter in an edition of Sauders' Current Therapy; Founder, President, and Medical Director of Memorial Clinic of Indianapolis, 1948 to present; Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Winona Memorial Hospital, 1956 to 1983; Life Fellow, American College of Gastroenterology (President 1970 to 1971); Section Council Gastroenterology and Chairman, 1970 to 1980; Member, Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces, 1971 to present; Editorial Research Board of Postgraduate Medicine, 1982 to 1983; Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Walther Cancer Foundation, 1985 to present; Member, Board of Directors, American Cancer Society-Indiana Division; Life Fellow, American College of Physicians; Member, American Medical Association House of Delegates.

During World War II, Dr. Walther spent time in the Pacific with the U.S. Army Air Corps. This experience would forever shape the way he thought about the world and its people, and he devotedly continued his service to others with twenty-four years in the Air Force Reserves. Dr. Walther received a number of military honors over the years, including the Silver Star, the Soldiers' Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal. He later retired from the Reserves as a well-respected colonel.

The military was certainly not the only entity that recognized Dr. Walther's continuous contributions to society. In 1990, Dr. Walther became a Master of the American College of Gastroenterology. In May of 1993, he received the title Clinical Assistant Professor Emeritus of Medicine in the Indiana University School of Medicine. In 1994, he was nominated for Individual Philanthropist Award given by the Indiana Chapter of the National Society of Funding Raising Executives. In 1995, he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash . In 1997, he received an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Indiana University. In 1998, he received an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Purdue University. In 2001, he received the IU Distinguished Alumni Service Award, the IU School of Nursing "Victoria Champion Boundary Spanning" Award, and the IU School of Medicine "Sing the Heroes" Award. In 2002, Dr. Walther received the HealthCare Heroes Award for Corporate Achievement in HealthCare. He became a member of the President's Circle at IU, and the Indianapolis Men's Association of IU named him the winner of the A.G. Clevenger Award to outstanding alumni. Not surprisingly, all of these titles and honors culminated when the Indiana Historical Society honored Dr. Walther as an Indiana Living Legend in 2003.

More than any title or honor, Dr. Joseph E. Walther will be remembered as a man dedicated to achieving success not just for himself, but for the entire Indianapolis community.

Dr. Joseph E. Walther, 93, died December 10, 2005 in Indianapolis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Margaret Ruddell Walther and daughter Suzanne Conran. He is survived by five children, Dr. Mary Ann Margolis, Joanne Landman, Diane Paczesny, Kurt Walther, and Karl Walther; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Dr. Walther will be Tuesday, December 13, in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted with Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Nora Chapel. You are invited to visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a personal memory, arrange for flowers or make a memorial contribution to the Walther Cancer Foundation, 3202 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Terry and Denise Lipe and Linda Harris.