Rivers P. Wall

He was a Baton Rouge native and a retired oral surgeon. He died at his home Friday evening, Aug. 1, 2008. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Monday, Aug. 4, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with recitation of the rosary at 7:45 p.m., led by members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Visiting continues at the funeral home on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on Tuesday at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Miles Walsh, celebrant. Interment in Roselawn Memorial Park. He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. He served at Bethesda Naval Hospital, San Diego Hospital and with the amphibious forces on the USS Mellette. He received the National Defense Service Medal. He attended LSU, was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans. He practiced oral surgery in Baton Rouge for 40 years. He was chief resident in oral surgery at Charity Hospital and was associate professor of oral surgery at LSU. He was a founding partner of Wall, Towns, Hornsby and Regan oral surgery group. He was captain of Manresa retreats for more than 40 years. He was chairman and senior chairman of the Baton Rouge Assembly. He was on numerous committees for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and served as chief of staff. He served on the executive committee of the Baton Rouge General Medical Center and as chief of staff. He was president of the Louisiana Society of Oral&Maxillofacial Surgeons and of the Sixth District Association. He was a member of the American Society of Oral Surgeons and the Southeastern Society of Oral Surgeons. He served on the executive board and as treasurer of Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge. He was a founding member of the American-Latin Commission for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and served in the Guatemalan missions. He was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church and served on the Parish Council, finance committee, St. Matthew's Guild and St. Vincent de Paul committee. He was a member of the Order of The Holy Sepulchre and received the Grand Cross, the Pilgrim Shell and the Order of the Palm from Pope John Paul II. He was past president of the Serra Club for Vocations, a member of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the LSU Foundation, and a life member of Catholic High Men's Club. He is survived by his wife, Dickens Hendrix Wall; daughters and sons-in-law, Judge Elizabeth and Michael Magner, of New Orleans, Sheryl and Mac Womack and Margaret and Mark Downing, all of Baton Rouge; daughter-in-law, Dr. Michelle Wall, of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Michael and Betsy Magner, both of New Orleans, MacDougall, Reed, McKenzie, Brendan, Annie and Joseph Womack, all of Baton Rouge, Andrew, Katie and Maddie Wall, all of Nashville; sister, Ann Wall Bowman; and brother, Dr. David Weeks Wall. He was preceded in death by his son, Dr. Rivers Patout Wall III; and his parents, Margaret Weeks Wall and Rivers Patout Wall Sr. Pallbearers will be Andrew Rivers Wall, William Joseph Womack, Michael Magner, Mac Womack, Mark Downing, Michael Magner Jr., MacDougall Womack, Brendan Womack, Williams Davis Wall IV and David Wall Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. David Wall, Dr. Eugene Appleton, Dr. Eugene Dauterive, Henry Dauterive, Steve Wall, Edward T. Weeks and Dr. Tooley Towns. In lieu of flowers, Masses are preferred. Please contact Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, St. Joseph Cathedral or St. Agnes Catholic Church.