The Witham Health Services Foundation recently received a generous contribution made in loving memory of longtime Lebanon residents Dr. James and Jean McAfee, and the foundation honored the pair with a memorial bench that was placed outside of the North Pavilion Entrance at Witham Health Services in Lebanon to honor their memory.
Dr. James McAfee was a graduate of Lebanon High School and attended Purdue University Pharmacy School. After working as a pharmacist for a short time he attended medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine. Following his internship and residency, Dr. McAfee and his wife Barbara “Jean” moved back to Lebanon where they resided for 55 years.
Dr. McAfee was a dedicated family physician, working hard to save the lives of many patients. He cared for more than 5,500 patients and delivered more than 1,000 babies. Dr. McAfee specialized in pediatric medicine and would perform anesthesia for several doctors. He retired but never quit practicing medicine; his last house call was done at age 90.
Jean was a devoted Christian, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her children lovingly remember her holding down the fort while Dr. McAfee worked his long hours. They spent nearly 70 years happily married.
“We are grateful to Diana, Jim, Kim and Pam for this gift in memory of their parents,” said Cari Ann Guenther, Manager of the Witham Health Services Foundation. “It is our honor to place a bench in their memory outside of the North Pavilion B, which houses our Pediatrics Department, honoring the lives of Dr. James and Jean McAfee.”
The McAfee’s children hope that visitors will pass by the bench, or sit for a minute or two, remembering two precious people who loved all and wanted to make the world a better place.
