Edwin Allen Meeks

BORN: September 16, 1925  DIED: March 17, 2018

 Edwin Allen Meeks, Sr. MD died on March 17, 2018. Dr. Meeks was born in Columbia, SC on September 16, 1925. He began the practice of Pediatrics in Johnson City as a partner with Dr. Robert Bosman and Dr. Robert Piston at the Bowman Clinic in 1958. Dr. Meeks and Dr. James M. Pearson were founding partners of Pediatric Associates in 1979. Dr. Mark Donavan and Dr. Paul Bischoff joined the group later. Following Dr. Meeks’ retirement in 1990 the group became First Choice Pediatrics.
     Dr. Meeks began his under graduate education at Davidson College and received the B.S. Degree from Union College, Schenectady, NY in 1946. Prior to entering Medical School he was employed as a chemist by Whitehall Pharmaceutical Co. in Knoxville. He received his MD from Vanderbilt School of Medicine in 1950. Dr. Meeks served his internship and residency at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC.
     He served in the Navy during WW II. Dr. Meeks was a hospital corpsman at St. Albans Naval Hospital on Long Island, NY, which received casualties from the D Day invasion. He was commissioned an Ensign upon completion of the Naval V-12 program at Union College. After receiving his MD, he entered the Army Medical Corps. While an intern at Walter Reed, he was involved in the care of soldiers injured in the Korean War. Dr. Meeks was Assistant Chief of Pediatrics at Brook Army Hospital in San Antonio, TX and Chief of Pediatrics at the 11th Field Hospital in Augsburg Germany. He was promoted to Major in 1956.
     Dr. Meeks was certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at ETSU Medical School. Dr. Meeks was a member of the Medical Staff of the Memorial Hospital and the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital. He held membership in the Washington, Carter and Unicoi County Medical Society, the Tennessee Medical Association, The Tennessee Pediatric Society, the Southern Medical Association, and the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. The Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics designated Dr. Meeks as the Senior Pediatrician of the year in 1995.
    Dr. Meeks served as a deacon, and Elder and Sunday school teacher at the First Presbyterian Church in Johnson City and at the time of his death was an Elder Emeritus at Midway Presbyterian Church in Jonesborough. He was a member of the Board of the Presbyterian Journal.
     Dr. Meeks was preceded in death by his father, the Rev. Benjamin A. Meeks, and mother, Miranda Taylor Meeks, his wife of 52 years, Ann Russell Meeks, brother and two sisters. One sister Marjorie M. Webb, Cabot AR, and brother-in-law Gene Pierce, Prattville, AL, survive him. He is survived by two sons, Edwin Allen Meeks Jr. and wife Mary, Johnson City and Matthew Taylor Meeks and wife Katie, Jonesborough, five daughters, Elizabeth M. Lueck and husband Michael, Wilmington, OH, Lynda M. Carter and husband Bill, Jonesborough, Julia M. Slemp, Jonesborough, Margaret “Rita” Teeters, and husband Randy, Alliance, OH, Sarah M. Roberson and husband Shawn, Elizabethton, 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, 6 nieces and 5 nephews.
     Graveside services will be in the Pleasant Forest Cemetery, Concord Road,. Farragut, TN. on Tuesday March 20, 2018 at 12:00 P.M. A Memorial service will be on Saturday March 24 at Midway Presbyterian Church, Jonesborough. Family will greet friends from 12:00 PM til 2:00 PM. Memorial service to follow at 2:00 PM.
     Donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse or Gideons International in lieu of flowers. Memories and condolences can be shared by visiting www.appfh.net. Appalachian Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 800 East Watauga Ave., Johnson City, TN is serving the Meeks family.