James Leo Green

LEXINGTON - James L. Green, Jr., M.D. Colonel U.S. Army Medical Corps (retired) departed this earth at his Lexington home at the age of 80. He was surrounded by the loves of his life: his wife and family, and his fur children (dogs), Lacy, Sassy, and Sweetie Pie. He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a doctor, an army veteran, a sailor, and a pilot, but most will remember him as a faithful friend. He believed that life was a gift and he made the most of it, living by the philosophy “Today’s a good day to have a good day.”

Dr. Green retired from the Department of Veteran Affairs in Washington, D.C., having served as Deputy to the Undersecretary for six years with national responsibility in the areas of rehabilitation and prosthetics. For his service, he was awarded the Department of Veteran Affairs Meritorious Award and Medal. Prior to this position, Dr. Green was Chief of Rehabilitation Service at the V.A. Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina, and Director of Physical Medicine Services at Richland Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Green received his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. He began his career in 1967 as a staff physician at the V.A. Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina. He was in private practice in Lenoir, North Carolina, and Memphis, Tennessee. He also served as a medical officer at NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Green served in the U.S. Army for 34 years, and retired from the Army Reserve as Colonel, Medical Corps. He was former commander of the 3270th U.S. Army Hospital at Fort Jackson. Among honors received, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, and he was elected to membership in the Order of Military Medical Merit. He was on active duty in Germany from 1956 to 1959 and during Desert Storm in 1991.

Dr. Green is survived by his wife of 25 years, Judith A. Laughlin, R.N., Ph.D.; son, James L. Green, III (Susan); step-daughters, Sonya Blick, Karen Hutto (Andy); step-grandchildren, Chris Hutto and Ashley Blick; brother, Richard Green (June); nephews, John, Matthew, Patrick, and Bradley Green; brothers-in-law, Edward and Robert; and his cherished friends of 45 years, Don and Nell Wilson. Dr. Green was predeceased by his parents; sister, Becky; daughter, Libby; and his former wife, Doris Green-Groff.

Interment with full Military Honors will be held at a 1:00 p.m. Thursday, November 9, 2017 at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Grand Central Station, PO Box 4777, New York, NY 10163 or www.michaeljfoxfoundation.org