Moffett, Alexander Stuart 1904-2009

MOFFETT, BILLINGS, FORBES, JACKSON, ROBSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/7/2013 at 09:20:09

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; May 25, 2009

ALEXANDER S. MOFFETT

Alexander Stuart "Alec" Moffett MD, 103, died in his sleep early on the morning of Sunday, May 24, 2009, at Mayflower Community Health Care Center.

A memorial service will take place next month, the date and time to be announced later. Memorial gifts may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 1025 Fifth Ave., Grinnell IA 50112.

He was born Sept. 17, 1904, in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, to Lacy and Kate Moffett, the first of their eight children. He attended Shanghai American School; was awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University and the Doctor of Medicine degree from Vanderbilt University.

He was united in marriage with Virginia Billings in 1935, and in 1936 he went back to China with his wife, where he served as a missionary surgeon at Jiangyin for the Presbyterian Church until hostilities there made it necessary to leave. From 1940 he was a surgeon in the hospital in Banner Elk, N.C. In 1947 he returned once again to China to continue his missionary work for one more year at Jenjiang before he and his family again were forced to leave. After a short stay in Bessemer, Ala., he moved in 1950 to Taylorsville, N.C., where he practiced until his retirement.

Following stays in New York City and Orlando, Fla., the Moffetts moved to the Mayflower Community in 1990. After his retirement he spent much of his time painting watercolors, writing poetry and spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his brother, Robert Moffett; his sister Martha Forbes; his son Sandy Moffett of Grinnell; his daughters Leighton Jackson of Langhorne, Pa., and Penny Robson of Cambridge, England; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.