Dr. Gordon Kenneth Klintworth

He was born on August 4, 1932 in Zimbabwe and was the eldest son of John and Iveagh Klintworth. He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Felicity Tait Klintworth, and his three adult children Susan Van Vleet (Eric), John Klintworth (Birgit) and Sandra Nance (Scott). He also leaves behind four grandchildren, Felicity Lewis (Britton), David Van Vleet, Lindsay Nance, and Margaret Nance. He was predeceased by his brother, Brian, and has one surviving brother, Ian.

He retired from Duke University Medical Center in June 2014 after 52 years of service. He was the Joseph Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and professor of Pathology.

Gordon was invited to deliver lectures around the world and was internationally renowned in his field. He was a prolific author having written numerous published books, articles, and papers on the subject of diseases of the eye with a specialty on the Cornea.

Around the year 2002, he created the website www. eyepathologist.com to help people living in rural areas around the world find information about the diseases of the eye. In 2010, the Duke University Medical Alumni Association awarded Gordon its Distinguished Faculty Award. In 2014, the Duke University Medical Center created the Gordon K. Klintworth Lectureship in Ophthalmology. Prior to working at Duke, Gordon earned his MD and PhD from the University of Witswatersrand in South Africa.

Gordon was a member of Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian in Cary, since 2001. Prior to that, Gordon was a member of Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church in Durham and was baptized Presbyterian.

Gordon loved to travel, having visited many unique places such as Borneo, Iceland, and Nepal. During the 1960s through the 1980s he was a highly rated chess player and later enjoyed playing and watching golf. For fun, he enjoyed relaxing at his getaway house on Beech Mountain whenever he found the opportunity.

A memorial service honoring Gordon’s life will be held 5:00pm Thursday, August 14, 2014 at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian, 200 High Meadow Dr, Cary, NC 27511.

A celebration of Gordon’s life will be held at The Forest At Duke, 2701 Pickett Road, Durham, NC 27705 on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 3:00pm with a reception immediately following until 5:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Gordon to the Duke Cancer Institute to support of prostate cancer research. Checks may be written to the Duke Cancer Institute and contributions may be mailed to the following address: Duke Cancer Institute, 710 W. Main St., Suite 200, Durham, NC 27701, or online at: https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dci

Condolences may be sent through: www.brownwynnecary.com