Hamblin Letton, longtime staff member at the former Georgia Baptist Hospital and Medical Center, died Jan. 13. He served as chief of staff of the hospital from 1962-72 and was a major contributor in the field of cancer prevention and treatment.

Letton served for more than three decades on the board of the American Cancer Society and was president of the group from 1971-72; he was named an honorary life member in 1979 and also recognized as the group’s first 50-year volunteer. He was a founder of the Nuclear Medicine Lab at the Medical Center in 1950.

During World War II he served as medical officer for the four escorts of carrier “Bogue” in the Atlantic Ocean, which sank 22 U-boats and captured the German submarine U-505, which remains on display in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Letton received at least 15 major awards in the field of medicine and was honored by having the Chair of Surgical Oncology at Georgia Baptist Hospital being named in his honor in 1990. He also served as editor or advisor on four major editorial boards in the field of oncology. In 1991 he was a founder of the Atlanta Cancer Center.

His wife, the former Roberta Rogers, preceded him in death, as well as his son, Robert Hamblin Letton, and a brother, James Letton. He is survived by a daughter, Alice Letton Zachodzki of Charlotte, N.C., her husband, and only grandson; sisters Olivia Beardsley of Fort White, Fla., and Rhoda Allen of Columbus, Ohio; and his brother, William Reynolds Letton of Fairhaven, Mass.

He was a member of Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta.

 

Bob Warren, interim pastor at Williams Creek Baptist Church in Georgia Association, died Jan 14. He was 63.

A native of Mount Vernon, Warren made his mark in education. After earning degrees from Georgia Southern and the University of Georgia Warren taught and served as principal at the elementary school level before being elected to superintendent for Warren County schools. Later he would serve as principal of Washington-Wilkes High School in Wilkes County and as assistant principal at Elbert County Middle School. After retirement he taught at Briarwood Academy in Warrenton.

Warren was a deacon and youth Sunday School teacher at Norwood Baptist Church. A U.S. Army veteran, he served in Belgium as a Communications Center specialist.

Survivors include his wife Beverly; sons Joey Warren, of Grovetown, and Jason Warren, of Batvia, Ohio; daughters Kimberly Toole, of Mitchell, and Becky Lowe, of Warrenton; sister Nancy Smith, of Warrenton; and 11 grandchildren