George Noble Bedell 1922-2007

NOBLE, BEDELL

Posted By: Michael (email)
Date: 1/22/2007 at 10:17:42

George Noble Bedell, 84 of 903 Highwood St. died Saturday, January 20, 2007 at home surrounded by his family following a prolonged illness.

Friends may greet the family from 4 to 7 pm Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City. A Memorial Service to celebrate George’s life will be held in February. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Dr. Bedell was born May 1, 1922 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the son of George H. and Elsie Noble Bedell. He grew up in Cincinnati Ohio. He obtained an undergraduate degree at DePauw University (1944) and his medical degree at the University of Cincinnati (1946). In 1946 Dr. Bedell came to Iowa City for his internship, earning $25 a month, room, board and laundry. He did one year of Pathology, before switching to Internal Medicine. Dr. Bedell was an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1948 to 1950, serving mainly in Okinawa. He then returned to the University of Iowa to do a two year residency in Internal Medicine followed by a two year research fellowship in Cardiology.

In 1954 – 55 he did a fellowship in pulmonary physiology at the University of Pennsylvania. When he returned to the University Hospitals, he was the first pulmonary specialist there, where he developed the pulmonary fellowship training program. He was director of the division of Pulmonary Medicine from 1968 – 81. His professional career was highlighted by a speaking tour of the middle east in the 1960s, membership in numerous professional organizations, serving on national boards and serving as president of the Iowa Thoracic Society. He officially retired three times, but continued to be clinically active up until 2004 including 45 years of service at the VA hospital and more than 50 years at UIHC.

On November 4, 1950 he married Betty Jane Goldzier in Chicago. They had five children: David, Mark, Paul, Barbara and Bruce. In 1970 Betty died and George remarried to Mirriel Shields Hummel, who also had five children: Judy, Jeff, Eric, Deborah and Andrew.

George was a doting father, looking after the well being of his children and grandchildren right up until his death. His neighbors recall that he was avid gardener, especially of tree peonies, day lilies and tulips. He was a loyal democrat, his service was highlighted by being a Eugene McCarthy delegate to the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. He was a long time member of the Unitarian Church, active in Worthly club. He was chairman of the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, member of Grey Hawks writers group and generous contributor to the Iowa City Arts and many other local organizations.

He is survived by his wife, Mirriel of Iowa City: four children, David (Ruth) Bedell of Iowa City and their children Ruth, Alan and Tatiana; Mark (Diane) Bedell of Iowa City and their children Joe (Brandi), Jennifer and Justina and great grandson Logan; Barbara Gartner of Iowa City and her children Jodie and Drew; Bruce (Claudia) Bedell of Iowa City and their sons Jose and Mathew; five step-children: Judy Hummel D’Amore of Port Townsend WA and her children Gabriel and Simone; Jeffrey (Beatrice Gandara) Hummel of Seattle WA and their children Naomi and Leo; Eric (Heidi) Hummel and their children Curan, Adam and Omar of Washington DC; Deborah (Walter) Hodges of Seattle WA; Andrew (Cheryl) Hummel-Schluger of Seattle WA and their children Sharon, Ben and Benjapon.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, his first wife Betty Jane, son Paul, son-in-law David Gartner and brother Donald.