Biography: Dr. John Grobmyer Tedford, 67, passed away on January 31, 2009, in Little Rock. John was born in Little Rock on August 8, 1941, the second son of William L. Tedford and Dorothy Grobmyer Tedford. He attended public schools in Little Rock and graduated from Forrest City High School in 1959, when Little Rock’s public schools were closed. John studied pre-med at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, leaving after three years to enroll in the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in Little Rock where he was awarded an MD in 1966. He did his internship and residency in colon and rectal surgery in Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. In 1968 John served in Viet Nam where he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade as Battalion surgeon. He participated in 17 major combat operations. He was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with combat V when, during operation Meade River, he was wounded by a remotely detonated bomb but continued to treat other wounded Marines and refused evacuation until he lost consciousness. After his military service, John established a practice in colon and rectal surgery in Little Rock and served as one of the city’s most respected surgeons for over thirty years. John married Judy Stoltz on October 28, 1993. He considered Judy’s daughter, Melinda and her children Blake, Branch, and Kasey and Kasey’s new son Hudson as his own family. John is survived by his wife, Judy, her daughter, Melinda, Melinda’s husband Dr. Micheal Selby, Kasey’s husband, Bo Carter and the step grandchildren and great grandchild. John is also survived by his brother Bill (William L. Tedford, Jr.), Bill’s wife Pat and their family, Marjorie, Susan and Alan and their respective spouses Robert Dudley, Robert Grady, and Anne Tedford and their children Robert, Layton, and Matthew Dudley, Kate and Ro Grady and Mary Ellis, Tollie, and newly born Katherine Tedford. John’s favorite pastimes were duck hunting and bass fishing. To him, heaven on earth was watching the sun set while sitting around the campfire on the bank of Flag Lake near Gillett. He was renowned for his infectious enthusiasm. Every bass fought harder than the one before, every duck season was more fun than the others, every sunset was the prettiest he had ever seen. He made his last hunting trip with brother Bill and first cousin Jim Mitchell three weekends before his death. He willed himself to participate and shared his joy at the experience to the very end. The family expresses its deep gratitude to the doctors, nurses and administrators at St. Vincent’s Infirmary Medical Center, especially the staff at 4 Northwest and to Arkansas Hospice. There will be a visitation held on Monday, February 2, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Ruebel Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 17th and Spring Street, in Little Rock at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 with The Rev. Canon R. Ewing “Andy” Jackson officiating. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make donations may contribute to St. Vincent’s Infirmary Medical Center, 2 St. Vincent Circle, Little Rock, 72205 or a church or charity of their choice. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com
I worked in Nursing Administration at Presbyterian Hospital.
I had a mad crush on John Tedford.
He worked under Dr. Fogelman.
What a sweet, gentle man.
I have thought about him for most of my life...and just saw this obituary.
My heart is broken and filled with sadness.
He died so young...no words...just sadness.
I am so sorry...rest in peace my beloved friend...spook.
( Spook is the name Fogelman gave me because whenever Dr. Tedford was with him. I would just show up "like a spook."