Dr. Donald Cooney

Funeral services for Dr. Donald R. Cooney, 65, of Temple will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday June 25, 2008 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Jim Deaconson officiating. Dr. Cooney died Saturday at his residence. Dr. Cooney was born in Zanesville, Ohio February 7, 1943 to Charles McClelland Cooney and Beulah Bell Scheffler Cooney. He married Diane Elaine Rush June 19, 1972. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Ohio State University in 1965 and received his medical degree from Ohio State University in 1970. He was the Director of Division of Pediatric Surgery and Chief of Children's Surgery at Scott and White Hospital and was Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics and Medical Humanities at Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine. Dr. Cooney served the medical community as a leader in children's health care for over 30 years. During his distinguished career Dr. Cooney also served as Surgeon-in-Chief and Pediatric Surgery Residency Director at Columbus Children's Hospital (1991-98) and Buffalo Women's and Children's Hospital (1982-1991). His first position was at the Mayo Clinic (1976-79). As a Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, he trained a number of the finest Pediatric and General Surgeons currently in practice. Dr. Cooney also contributed to the education of future physicians in the operating room and in the classroom. In addition to his surgical expertise, Dr. Cooney had a unique knowledge of medical history, which he gladly shared. He was a Specialty Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics, Surgical Section; Fellow, American College of Surgeons; American Pediatric Surgical Association; Association of Academic Surgery; British Association of Pediatric Surgeons; Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (East); Robert M. Zollinger Surgical Society; Society of University Surgeons; American Trauma Society; American Academy of Pediatrics-Fellow- Surgical Section; Central Surgical Association, Senior Member; American Burn Association and The Children's Oncology Group. Survivors include his wife Diane E. Cooney of Temple; two sons Dr. Damon Sean Cooney his wife Carisa Miller Cooney of Springfield, Illinois and Dr. Derek Robert Cooney and his wife Dr. Norma Gloria Laurel Cooney of Manlius, New York, three grandsons Matthew Robert Cooney, Andrew Charles Cooney and Thomas Michael Cooney all of Manlius, New York; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Robert Bryan Rush and Martha Rose Rush of Temple. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Tuesday and a Wake will be held at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Donations may be made to the Donald R. Cooney endowed professorship in Pediatric Surgery by contacting the development office at Scott & White (2401 S 31st Street, Temple, TX 76508 tel. 254-724-6541).