Robert Fowler Getty, M.D., age 83 of North Platte, died October 4, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. He was born July 16, 1929 at Monmouth, IL to Robert Lamont Getty and Lois (Fowler) Getty.
The family moved to North Platte in 1939 where Robert attended the North Platte public schools, graduating from North Platte High School in 1947. Robert attended Grinnell College, receiving a bachelor’s degree with a major in chemistry in 1951. He also attended the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, receiving the M.D. degree in 1955.
Robert married Naomi Nettleton June 24, 1955 at York, NE. Four children were born to this union.
Following internship at Immanuel Deaconess Institute in Omaha, and military service in the U.S. Air Force at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, KS, Robert returned to North Platte, where he began practicing family medicine in the fall of 1958. He practiced medicine in North Platte for 43 years. He was on the medical staffs of Memorial and St. Mary’s Hospitals, and when Great Plains Regional Medical Center opened he continued on its medical staff. Dr. Getty worked during the 1960s’s and 1970’s on the effort to combine the two small hospitals into a single hospital, and to encourage new physicians to come to North Platte. Robert was a pioneer in North Platte, encouraging general practitioners to work with specialists for obtaining better patient care.
Robert was a 70-year member of the First Presbyterian Church in North Platte. He served several terms on the Session of the church, and three times as stated clerk of Session. He also taught church school classes as well as short-term Bible studies. Other memberships included the Lincoln County Medical Society, the Nebraska Medical Association, The American Academy of Family Practice and the Nebraska chapter of the AAFP.
Robert is survived by his wife Naomi; sons Robert John (Cindy) Getty of Papillion, NE, and Stephen (Patti Parziale) Getty of Wilmington, DE; daughters Mary (Karl) Haider of Pittsburgh, PA, Margaret Anne (Dan Kissel) Getty of Cranberry Township, PA; and seven grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in North Platte, the Robert F. Getty Scholarship Fund at Great Plains Regional Medical Center, or to the donor’s choice. On line condolences may be made at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be Monday October 8, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Polly Deppen officiating. There will be a luncheon following the service. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from noon to 6:00 on Saturday, and noon to 7:00 on Sunday. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.