November 10, 1932 - September 12, 2019
Robert E. Drury (Bob) was born in Carlinville, IL. He attended Backburn College there
and majored in pre-med and math, then attending St. Louis University and graduated
in 1957 with a DDS degree. The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) offered
him a one year internship at their Hospital in Baltimore, Md. After presenting a
research paper on Hypnosis in Dentistry, the National Institute of Health (NIH) in
Bethesda, MD offered him a position as research dentist. He worked 5 years at NIH,
doing research there, but also in several South American countries. The office of the
Surgeon General, Luther Terry at that time, sent him to Geneva, Switzerland,
representing the USA in dental matters at the World Health Organization (WHO). The
USPHS Hospital on Staten Island, NY was his next assignment. There he met his wife,
Karin. They were married in Germany before heading for his next assignment to
Seattle. WA. Their 2 daughters were born there. They fell in love with the beautiful
Pacific North West and decided to raise their family in the small town of North Bend, 30
miles east of Seattle. They opened a dental practice in town and lived there till 1998
when they moved to Englewood, FL.
Bob loved the outdoors, bird hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking and camping always
accompanied by the family dogs or his wife and daughters. One of his favorite
hobbies was magic and he enchanted many young patients chair side with magic
tricks and funny stories. He was passionate about treating every patient gently,
without pain and with dignity, taking lots of time to alleviate fear and anxiety. He called
dentistry his hobby that he enjoyed very much. Bob was a life member of the
American Dental Society (ADA) and the local Seattle/King County Chapter, as well as
VFW and DAV. After his retirement the Drury’s travelled to the Europe, Australia and
New Zealand, attending magic conventions and enjoyed meeting other magicians. Bob
was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) and a member
of the Order of Merlin, and exclusive fraternity of the IBM. In 1996, after presenting a
magic act, one of his inventions, the prestigious Magic Circle of London, initiated him
into their society.
The warm climate of Florida healed his aching joints and back enough so that
he was able to return to his favorite sport, tennis, for a number of years. He was
preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Elizabeth (Terlip), 4 siblings, Louise
(Darscheid), Conrad, Elizabeth (Berwick) and William, as well as 2 brothers in law, Louis
and E.J., and several nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife of 53 years,
Karin, and daughters Anne (Rob) and Catherine. A Celebration of Life and funeral at the
Sarasota National Cemetery are planned for a later date. Memorial Donations may be
made in Bob’s honor to the the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), PO Box 14301
Cincinnati, Ohio 45250 or Tidewell Hospice Inc. 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL
34238-9989.
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