Dr. Paul B. Kerr, 89, Montrose, PA, passed away into the presence of his Lord on November 25, 2014. Born March 17, 1925, delivered in the Titusville, PA Hospital by his grandfather, W. G. Johnston, MD, he was the son of Paul B. Kerr, Sr, an Undertaker, and Mary Sprague Johnston Kerr. Grandparents besides Kerr and Johnston included Wakefield and Benedict. Paul had one sibling, W. Robert Kerr, 2 years younger. He wife Donna I. [Smith] Kerr predeceased him in 2005.
Paul graduated Valedictorian from Titusville High School in 1943. This Class lost 19 men to enlistment for WW II. One week after graduation 29 additional men from the Class, including Paul, were drafted and entrained together for the Induction Center.
Paul did Infantry Basic Training that summer in Alabama, then was assigned as a Basic Engineer student to Auburn, AL. Soon he was transferred to the U. of Nebraska as a Pre-Med student, completing this in Dec. 1945. He then became an Army Medic in the army hospital near Chicago, caring for wounded from the Battle of the Bulge.
From 1946 to 1949 he was a Medical Student at Northwestern U. in Chicago, obtaining BS and MD degrees. From 1949 till 1952 he was an Intern and Resident in Internal Medicine at Guthrie Clinic in Sayre, PA. He was licensed to practice medicine in PA in 1950. He became certified in Family Practice, and was active in Medical organizations.
In 1952 Dr. Kerr was drafted into the US Army Medical Corps and served as Commander of the 8th Army HQ Dispensary in Seoul, Korea, for the next two years. There he met Reuben A. Torrey, DD, Missionary, in a life-changing experience. Dr. Torrey retired to Montrose where he and Dr. Kerr were affiliated with the Montrose Bible Conference, Dr. Torrey as President, and Dr. Kerr, in later years as Secretary of the Board of Directors. He was a life member of VFW Post #154, Elk Lake, PA.
At Sayre he met Registered Nurse Donna I. Smith, from Wysox, Bradford Co. They married Nov 19th, 1949. Paul & Donna Kerr settled in Montrose in 1952 where they practiced medicine for 50 years in partnership with Raymond Bennett, MD and Eudora, his wife, Donna's only sibling. These four founded the Medical Clinic, Hospital, Nursing Home and Pharmacy. Paul made house calls with a Jeep, consulted in the office, treated people in hospital and nursing home, did emergency work day and night, administered anesthesia for 40 years, and delivered more than 3000 babies. At various times he was Hospital Administrator and Nursing Home Administrator.
A good marriage of 55 years ended with Donna's death March 1, 2005. There are three children: Cerise Hayes of Binghamton, Jeffrey, married to Melissa, Montrose, and Renee, wife of David Tyler of Montrose. The 7 grandchildren are James, Rebecca and John Hayes, Jennifer Kerr [Robert] Murphy, Dale Shotwell (Melissa's son), Helena [John] Oden, and Leah Tyler. Great-grandchildren; Callen, and Kennady Murphy. Daughters Cerise and Renee are practicing nurses.
Paul was past President of The Montrose Rotary Club which he joined in 1954 and accomplished 50 years of perfect attendance.. Additionally he was District Governor. He was active in Rotary high school foreign youth exchange for 40 years, hosting 17 in his home and arranging for many throughout NE PA. Paul & Donna attended 15 Rotary International Conventions. Paul was awarded The Paul Harris Fellowship and discovered the truth of the Rotary motto, “Real happiness is in helping others”.
The Kerrs, often with family, became travelers to most all US states and five continents. Often they stayed in the homes of their overseas Rotary students. They crossed the Pacific 4 times and the Atlantic about 30 times. Inveterate photographers, Dr. Paul and Donna were active in the Montrose Camera Club, for over 33 years, taking photos on trips, of family and friends.
Paul joined the Masonic Lodge in Athens, PA in 1950 and transferred to Montrose; completing 60 years membership. His favorite part was Knights Templar, the Christian arm of Masonry. He was Commander of the Montrose Commandery, and lead group excursions of Templars to Portugal and Malta.
Paul was a member of the Montrose Presbyterian Church, became an Elder and sang in the choir for many years. There he taught Sunday School for 7 years. He became a member of the Evangelical Free Church when it began in Montrose and there also taught Sunday School in early years. He was a Gideon, and was President of the Susquehanna County Camp and Church Speaker. Paul & Donna were serious Christians and loved their Lord.
He wrote and published two books, first a biography of a Civil War Surgeon, who was a family relative, secondly a book entitled “The Last of the Kerrs”.
A service was held on November 29, 2014 at the Dreyer Hall, of the Montrose Bible Conference, Montrose. Donations in memory are suggested for The Montrose Bible Conference, at the address above, and the Evangelical Free Church of Montrose, PO Box 326, Montrose, 18801. Bartron-Myer Funeral Home, Inc., Montrose, PA has been entrusted with arrangements.
