Dr. James A. Valone

Dr. James A. Valone died August 9, 2012 at the age of 99. He was born on a farm in Westfield, NY in 1913. His parents, Patricia and Charles Valone, raised 10 children and any number of crops, chief among them grapes, on their Chautauqua County farm. Dr. Valone graduated from Westfield High School and received his undergraduate education at the University of Buffalo. He graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine where he was elected to membership in AOA. He took his internship and residency in surgery at the Henry Ford Hospital. He received a master’s degree in medical science from the University of Michigan. He completed a residency in Neurology at the Mayo Clinic. In 1952, he took a fellowship in plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery under Dr. James Barrett Brown at Washington University.

During WWII, he served as an Army Major and a Chief of Surgery at Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta. During that time his care for any number of severely wounded American soldiers sparked a decades-long commitment to plastic and reconstructive surgery.

After fellowship, Dr. Valone relocated to Raleigh and became NC’s first plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He attended patients at Rex Hospital, Wake Memorial Hospital and Mary Elizabeth Hospital. In addition to his work in Wake County, he conducted charity clinics in Greenville and Fayetteville. His clinical teaching experience on behalf of UNC reinforced his love of medical education.

At UNC, a professorship of plastic and reconstructive surgery, a lectureship endowment and a plastic and reconstructive surgery research endowment all bear his name.

Dr. Valone was one of the early pioneers in the surgical management of birth defects, soft tissue wounds, burns and cancer. He was among the first in the state to use radioactive implants to treat tumors, and he was among the first to use prosthetics in breast reconstruction.

He practiced medicine for 60 years and attended emergency room patients well into his eighth decade of life. When asked why he continued to see emergency room patients long after he was, by age, excused from such duty, his answer was simple, “You can do so much good for injured people.”

Dr. Valone was a longstanding member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church and of the Carolina Country Club.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ethel F. Valone and children, Dr. James A. Valone, Jr. and wife, Christiane of Norfolk, VA, Thomas F. Valone and wife, Rebecca of Raleigh, and Mary Ethel Valone Bettendorf and husband, Henry of Ladue, MO. Surviving grandchildren include: Thomas F. Valone, Jr., Samuel E. Valone and Charles A. Bettendorf.

Dr. Valone was preceded in death by one grandchild, H. Spaulding Bettendorf.

A Service of the Witness of the Resurrection will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 11, 2012 at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1701 Oberlin Road, Raleigh. The family will greet friends immediately after the service in the Jane Bell gathering space at the church.

Private entombment will be held at Raleigh Memorial Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a contribution be made to the White Memorial Flower Guild.

Mitchell Funeral Home is handling arrangements.