David E. Tanner

David E. Tanner, M.D., FACR died on September 30, 2016. Gene was born March 27,1922 in Sandersville, Georgia, son of the late Eula Lee and Mattie Jordan Tanner.

He served his country in World War II as a B-17 bomber pilot. His aircraft was shot down over Vienna on March 17th, 1943 on his 24th combat mission. His belly gunner was killed. Lt. Tanner and his other 8 crew members spent 75 days behind enemy lines in the care of the Yugoslav partisans, hiking across the snowy alps in sandals made from rubber tires and suffering starvation and dysentery. He asked that Alice, a 21 year old Greek woman whose last name he never knew, who guided them to safety be remembered in his obituary for her bravery and kindness to him and his crew. He was awarded several combat medals and ribbons and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He married Kathryn Amerson on September 1, 1945. They were remarkable partners for 65 years; settling in Savannah in 1960 where they lived a rich, community-oriented life full of friends and family. They were a wonderful couple and traveled extensively and generally had fun with their close friends in the Geritol Gypsies.

He attended Emory University and graduated the Medical College of Georgia in 1950. He started a medical practice in Sparta, Ga. where he practiced for 3 years before returning to the Medical College of Georgia to complete a Radiology residency.

Before coming to Savannah to serve as chairman of the Department of Radiology at what was then Memorial Hospital, he served as Chairman of the Department of Radiology of St. Josephs Hospital in Augusta, Ga.
He served the medical community of Savannah well and was generous with his great intellect, time and effort. He served as Secretary of the Medical and Dental staff at Memorial and as the first Director of the Area Cancer Program for Southeast Georgia. He was Chief of Staff in 1975 and in 1976 he chaired the first Credentials Committee at Memorial. He initiated the Tumor Board and Tumor Registry at Memorial.

In 1979 he was the driving force behind the creation of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Memorial and served as its first Chairman. He saw this Department through a period of great growth and technological advancement and, along with his friend, Mason Robertson, M.D, brought advanced cancer care to Savannah at a time when this was not yet standard practice except at large university centers. He served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology of the Medical College of Georgia.

He was a member of the American College of Radiology, the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, as well as state and local medical organizations.

A long time advocate of Hospice care, Dr. Tanner received the Physicians Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Medical Society in 2002 for his role in establishing a nonprofit Hospice in Savannah in 1979. In 2003 he was the recipient of the John B. Rabun Award for community service and in 2005 received a distinguished Service Award from Memorial Health University Medical Center.

He made time for a life outside of medicine. His love of boating and fishing was clear as he was a member of the Savannah Yacht Club, Flotilla 10-2 of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and was the last surviving charter member of the Savannah Sport Fishing Club. He loved the water, its beauty and the challenges of navigation. He often quoted his friend Mason Robertson when getting ready for a fishing trip: “Mighty are the preparations of the fisherman.” He shared his passion for fishing with his beloved Kathryn and his family. We all became avid fisherman and love the water as a result.

He was a devoted member of Isle of Hope Methodist Church and the Seekers Sunday school class. He had served on the Administrative Board and later as honorary member of the Church Council.

He was a complicated man who loved his family and always tried to do what he believed to be right. Or as he often said: “Do the best you can with what you’ve got.”

He was grateful, especially, for the care given to him by his daughter Kay who gave him a loving, beautiful place to live in his last years and caregivers
Richard, Tita, the two Marys, Ro, and Rhonda. He also greatly appreciated the kind and compassionate care of Drs. Jean Sumner and Robert Rollings.

In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his beloved Kathryn, his sister and her husband Miriam and Edwin Rumrill of Atlanta, his brother Curtis and his wife Martha of San Diego and his devoted and much loved son in law Gerald Clausen of Sandersville. He is survived by his brother Lamar (Eleanor), children Kay Clausen of Sandersville, Dr. David Tanner (Laurie) of Charlotte, N.C., grandchildren David Clausen (Ginger) of Portland, Or, Lt. Susan Clausen, RN of the US Air Force, Andrew Tanner of Charlotte, N.C. and great grandchildren Thomas, Kali, Peighton Clausen.

Funeral services will be held at the Sandersville United Methodist Church
202 W Church St Sandersville, GA at 11 A.M. on Monday October 3, 2016. Burial will follow in Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville with military honors.

The family suggests remembrances to:
Hospice Savannah PO Box 1390, Savannah 31416,
Building Fund of the Sandersville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 611, Sandersville, Georgia 31082
Mineral Springs Baptist Church, 165 Yarbrough Ln, Mitchell Georgia 30820
Isle of Hope Methodist Church, 412 Parkersburg Rd Savannah, Ga. 31406

May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville is in charge of the arrangements.

www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com