Obituary for Norval LeRoy Saxton

April 2, 1934 - March 12, 2009 Norval LeRoy Saxton "Sax", 74 of Oskaloosa passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Lake Keomah on Thursday, March 12th. He was born on April 2, 1934 in Alliance, Nebraska, the son of Marion Bemice (Williams) Saxton and Lloyd Earl Saxton. He served briefly in the United States Navy and then attended Wayne State Teacher''s College in Nebraska for one year. He then attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in medicine in 1961. Dr. Saxton had a one year internship in family practice at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA and one year of surgery residency with Surgical Associates in Mason City, IA. He then joined the medical group of Collison and Smith in Oskaloosa and soon after formed the Family Medical Center. He remained in Oskaloosa after serving as the county coroner and then opened his own private practice. In 1974 he was offered a professorship at Texas Tech University where he became a tenured associate professor, hi 1982 his family moved to Danville, Illinois where he took the position of Medical Director at Lakeview Medical Center. In 1986 he was recruited to Des Moines, IA where he was Medical Director at Iowa Lutheran Hospital for 4 years. In 1990 the Saxton''s moved to Atlanta, Georgia where "Sax" again served as Medical Director and Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Joseph Hospital. His final position prior to retirement took him to Lancaster, California where he served a Medical Director and VP of Antelope Valley Medical Center. Some of Dr. Saxton''s accomplishments include: Member of the American College of Physicians Executives starting in 1975 and was elected to serve on the National Board for three years. He was a member of the American Medical Association and the Iowa Medical Society. Dr. Saxton was active in Boy Scouts while living in Texas and was a Scout Master and earned the wood badge. He was also an elder in the Presbyterian Church while living in Lubbock, TX. "Sax" was an avid reader, kind, caring, humble and reverent. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa and served as an Elder there for six years. He took an active role with the local Chamber of Commerce and served on two Main Street Committees in Oskaloosa. Preceding him in death were his parents, a sister and his loving step-father. Survivors include his wife Jean Saxton, two children, Amy Sanford of Davenport, IA and Andrew Saxton (Julie) of Ames, IA, two sisters Melanie Hartung of Lincoln, NE and Cheryl (Larry) Beers and family of Syracuse, NE and step-sister Judy Stubbs (Mike) and seven grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa on Monday March 16 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa.