Roger Hombs

HOMBS ROGER HOMBS 1922 - 2013 Died at home on Saturday, September 14, 2013. Devoted husband, father, and public servant, and man of faith who valued loyalty, integrity, and tenacity. He believed in compassion for others and exhibited modesty despite his many accomplishments. Born in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1922, he grew up in St. Louis, where he graduated from Grover Cleveland High School and Washington University School of Dentistry in 1945. He served in the U.S. Army until the creation of a U. S. Air Force medical corps in 1949, becoming one of just over 70 Army officers who went to the new Air Force Dental Service, bringing experience as military officers and practicing dentists. Posted to the Philippines, he was responsible for planning, programming, and delivery of care, including to 16,000 Filipino Army personnel. His experiences in private practice, clinical work, and teaching at Washington University were assets in the post-war period. Upon his return to the States, he was Base Dental Surgeon in Texas, Kansas, and Tennessee. In Wichita Falls, Texas, he directed six oral surgeons responsible for over 1,000 airmen per week deploying to Korea. He spent a year in Greenland as Chief of Dental Services, and was the first Deputy Command Surgeon for the Air Training Command. He served two years at the Caribbean Air Command in the Panama Canal Zone, responsible for service members throughout Central and South America and liaison to foreign military counterparts. On his return stateside, he held positions of increasing responsibility, serving at Strategic Air Command, Air Force Logistics Command, and Tactical Air Command bases. Making the transition from active practice to leadership, he proved adept at taking on the global needs of the Air Force and identifying new opportunities to do pioneering work. He created a new dental internship program to bring young officers into the corps; the program was accredited in its first year. He also led a pilot program to create indices for forecasting manpower needs. The launch of the nation's space program created new opportunities and challenges, yielding a long relationship with the emerging science related to space, included adapting to special needs in space and ensuring basic education in simple dental procedures for astronauts during flight. More women were interested in military service, and he was a long-time supporter of opportunity for women in the military and the use of civilian professionals. He fostered advances in forensic and field medicine during the Vietnam era. In 1966, he was assigned to the Office of the Surgeon General in Washington, DC as Deputy Surgeon General and promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. In 1970, he was named Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services and promoted to Major General in 1972. He traveled widely to create relationships with dental educators and professional organizations. With 33 years of active service, he retired in 1975. He was a member of the American Dental Association, American Association of Dental Schools, a Fellow of the Federation Dentaire Internationale, a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, and a life member of Delta Sigma Delta fraternity. He was honored in 1971 by Washington University as a Founders Day Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Star, and the Air Force Longevity Service Medal. Roger had a lifelong love for nature, history, and travel, and was proud of his Scots heritage. He took up photography during a lifetime of travel, and at the time of his death, he had visited more than 100 countries around the world. He was a long-time member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, where he was active in church affairs, including the response to hunger and homelessness in the community and visitation to the sick and elderly. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, the former Marie Powell, and two daughters, Peggy Hombs of Richmond, VA (Steven Van Voorhees), and Mary Ellen Hombs of Boston, nephew, Tom Hombs of Colorado and niece Heidi Hombs Cortelyou of Missouri. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 21 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, with internment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. The family thanks all the caregivers who brought comfort and dignity to Roger: Fatmata Sesay, Samuel McGill, Yusufu Gaye, Jemima Ofori, and Mabinty Turay. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to St. Luke's Gifts and Memorial Fund or United Community Ministries. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 21 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, with internment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, November 20th at 1:00pm. The family thanks all the caregivers who brought comfort and dignity to Roger: Fatmata Sesay, Samuel McGill, Yusufu Gaye, Jemima Ofori, and Mabinty Turay. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to St. Luke's Gifts and Memorial Fund or United Community Ministries.