Dr. Gilbert D. Jay III

Feb 7, 1929 - Oct 15, 2012

Dr. Gilbert D. Jay III retired general surgeon and Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, passed away at the age of 92 , on October 15, 2012 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Gilbert (better known as Gib) was born February 7, 1929 in South Bend, Indiana. He was the son of Gilbert D. Jay Jr. and Helen Maurine Lent Jay of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On August 13, 1942, he married Mary Frances Bowers in Old Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As a young man Dr. Jay earned the rank of Eagle Scout and as a senior at South Bend Central received acclaim for achieving a perfecct score on the SAT as well as a scholarship to Yale which he declined. He attend the University of Pennsylvania both the Moore School of Engineering and Medical School, earning a BA in Electrical Engineering and a Doctorate of Medicine. He was a member of three honorary engineering fraternities and was a past president of Nu Sigma Nu Medical fraternity.

During World War II he served two years as a flight surgeon and then finished his medical training in surgery at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. On completion of her residency, Dr. Jay opened a practice in West Memphis, Arkansas, becoming the first surgeon to service the Crittenden County area.

Dr. Jay was in practice for 35 years. While residing in West Memphis he was a member of 1st Presbyterian Church and the Chamber of Commerce presented him with their Man of the Year Award in 1952. He was also a member and past president and was named a Paul Harris Scholar in Rotary International.

He is survived by his wife, of 70 years, Mary Bowers Jay; his son Charley Bowers Jay (wife Karen) ; three daughters Helen Renee Webb (husband Nick), Atara Sue Hunter, and Judith Lent Porter (husband Kim); 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nancy Jay, his brother Edwin Lent Jay, and his sons Frank Clark Jay and Gilbert D. Jay IV.

Dr. Jay's body has been donated to the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.

Source: FindAGrave.com

10/25/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99035469/gilbert_delafayette-jay