Edward Conger Held, M.D.

Edward Conger Held, M.D. passed away at the age of 84 on August 17, 2007. Ed Held was born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 26, 1923 to Donald and Helen Conger Held. He grew up in Akron, Ohio. Ed was married to Joan McMartin on July 26, 1949 in San Marino, CA. Ed attended Bullis Prep School in Maryland and the University of Akron in Ohio.

He began his military service as a Medical Specialist in the United States Army from 1942 to 1944. He went on to Medical School at Western Reserve University, now Case Western Reserve University, and graduated in 1948. Ed did his internship at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, CA.

He attended Flight Surgeon School in San Antonio from 1948 to 1949. Dr. Held proudly served as a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force National Guard until 1954. He continued his service to his country as a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force Reserves until 1974 when he retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

During his life, Ed was licensed to practice medicine in the States of Ohio, California and Texas. Dr. Held began his career as a General Practice doctor in San Antonio in 1957. Ed was a Senior FAA Medical Examiner for the Southwest Region of the United States. He was privileged to be able to conduct all classes of Pilot Medical Exams.

Ed loved flying in his Air Force days and felt blessed to enjoy continued interaction with Pilots of all levels by giving pilot medical exams until his retirement from the practice of medicine in 2001. Ed also served as a Medical Director for USAA Life Insurance Company. Dr. Held loved the medical profession and enjoyed an interesting and rewarding career.

He lived a long rich life filled with numerous passions and activities. In college, Ed was a competitive swimmer. He enjoyed hunting, skeet shooting, bicycle riding, opera and classical music. Ed enjoyed traveling to Houston to attend operas. He rode in numerous century bicycle races including the Hotter'N Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls. He built his own bicycles and loved tinkering with anything mechanical. He played the organ and piano. He was an avid reader and was interested in Geology.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Joan McMartin Held, his parents, Donald and Helen Conger Held, and his brother, Donald Dean Held, Jr.

Ed Held is survived by his nephews, Paul Held of Sumter, SC, his wife, Margaret and their children, Hardin, George, and Lawson; and Blake Held of Rochester, NY, his wife, Sarah, and their children, Cameron and Emily. Ed is also survived by his cousins, Sid Conger of Houston, TX, Dr. George Conger of Akron, OH, and Marjorie Harkins of Columbus, OH and by his sister-in-law, Patricia Gibbs of Seattle, WA, her husband, George Gibbs, and their children, Kathryn Gibbs, Margaret Gibbs Hendrickson, and George Gibbs, III, and seven grandchildren.

Ed was a member of the American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Bexar County Medical Society, and the Industrial Medical Association.

In his early military days, Ed was a member of the National Society of Pershing Rifles. He was also a member of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He attended St. Luke's Episcopal Church in San Antonio for many years.

Ed was genuinely blessed to have the loving and dedicated care of Jackie Williams during the last years of his life, who enabled Ed to carry on the activities he enjoyed up to the time of his passing.

Dr. Ed Held was loved by his patients, medical colleagues, family and many friends and will be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice or FRIENDS OF MUSIC, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 11 St. Luke's Lane, San Antonio, TX 78209.