William Lentz

One of the last of a kind, compassionate "country doctors" passed away on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2004 at a local hospital. Still practicing medicine after 55 years, he will be greatly missed by his patients, who have trusted his judgment and benefited from his expertise and wisdom all these years.
Doctor "Bill" was born April 19, 1924 in Manhattan, KS, where his father was attending engineering school at Kansas State University. His mother, Evalyn Frances Rafter was in nursing school. He spent his elementary years in Salina where old time Dr. Vermillion let a 9-year old boy observe surgery and go on house calls. Dr. Lentz graduated from Topeka High School in 1942 where he was on the Topeka High Golf squad. His "mentor" was Dr. John Lattimore of Lattimore-Fink Labs, where he spent weekends learning various points about lab work. He was inducted into the US Navy in 1942 as a registered lab tech and served in Guam and Japan. Following his discharge in 1946, he entered the University of Kansas and graduated in 1949 with a BS degree. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1953.
He served his preceptorship in Seneca with Dr. Conrad Barnes, and practiced there for seven years before returning to Topeka in 1962. He was President of the Nemaha Co. Medical Society 1959-1960.
He was a member of the Kansas Medical Society Fee Scheduling Committee and KAMPAC, one of the initial "Ad Hoc" committees studying the "new" Pap Smear, which became nationwide from this study. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, serving as President 1980-1981. He was on the staff of both Stormont-Vail and St. Francis Hospitals. In 1978, he was one of three physicians of the Kansas Academy who initiated "Doctor of the Day" program for the Kansas Legislature, which is still in existence.
He was a member of Topeka Country Club, where his love of golf was only surpassed by his love of medicine and family, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Arab Shrine Boaters Unit, Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, Westminster Presbyterian Church.
He married Doris Taggart on June 13, 1947 in Topeka. she survives. Other survivors include his three special children, Linda L. Schell, Topeka, S. Bradley and wife, Leigh Lentz, Overland Park, Nancy L. and husband, John Campbell, Phoenix, AZ; five wonderful grandchildren, Lindsay D. Schell, Topeka, Will Lentz and Kennedy Lentz, Overland Park, Colton Campbell and Morgan Campbell, Phoenix, AZ; a sister, Carolyn Shaw, Newville, PA.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sally Lentz in 1965.
A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. The family will receive friends from 4:30-6:00 pm Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity house renovation, 1422 SW Campbell, Topeka 66604, or to Capper Foundation, 3500 SW 10th Ave, Topeka 66604.
To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.