To the Editor:

Recently, the obituary of my beloved high school friend, Bob, was sent to me by his wife, Gussie, from Vero Beach, Fla. where they made their home since 1960. Because I kept in touch with them through the years his death was not a shock.

Bob Vinson had left our small eastern North Carolina town of Ahoskie after finishing high school to enter the University of North Carolina. Following his graduation from UNC Medical School, he entered the University of Iowa, graduating as the first pediatric resident graduate of the University of Florida College of Medicine. Vinson became the only pediatric specialist when he came to Vero Beach in 1960.

Somewhere along life’s way he came back to Ahoskie to spend a few days with his mother who was ill in Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. At the same time a young couple from out in the rural community were in the same hospital with their baby. It turns out the baby needed a blood interchange which was impossible to obtain in our small hospital.

It so happened the situation of the “struggling for life” newborn baby attracted the attention of Dr. Bob and he was able to perform successfully the life saving procedure. This was many years ago.

Back to the present, Dr. Bob’s wife (Gussie) called recently to share the news of the couple (with the baby in R-C Hospital who received a near miracle) who had just read the obituary of Dr. Bob Vinson in our local newspaper.

Their message to Gussie in Florida was first, their heartfelt sympathy to her and Dr. Bob’s children. Following this the couple empathized their loving gratitude for Dr. Bob’s medical expertise.

In later years the couple realized Dr. Bob’s greatest gift of all—his Christian caring—“amazing grace” we too can share this same gift.

Ann Basnight

Virginia Beach, Va.