Dr. Jesse Blake Kellum

Dr. Jesse Blake Kellum, 88, of Cambridge, died Thursday (January 10, 2013) at the Cambridge Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was born July 1, 1924 in Palo Alto CA, son of the late Dr. H. J. Kellum and Lena Belle (Spence) Kellum. Dr. Kellum received his high school diploma from Tupelo MS in 1942. He then earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Mississippi in 1948. In 1951, he earned his M.D. from the Harvard Medical School, and served his surgical residency at The Roosevelt Hospital of New York City from 1951-1956. Dr. Kellum was a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgery, as well as a Fellow of the International College of Surgery. He resided in Cambridge from 1956 to the present. He was a member of Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center (formerly Guernsey Memorial Hospital) until his retirement. After his retirement, Dr. Kellum served as Guernsey County Coroner for ten years. Earlier in his career, he served for many years with the Guernsey County Cancer Society, including five years as the president. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, and skiing. Dr. Kellum was a US Army veteran, having served during WWII and earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. As Dr. Kellum was serving in the Philippines, his twin brother was serving in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the VFW, Cambridge Country Club, Elks, Eagles, Masons, Shriners, and Scottish Rite. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Chisholm) Kellum, whom he married June 2, 1951; three sons, Dr. J. Blake (& Cindi) Kellum of Marion, David (& Rebecca) Kellum of Salesville, and Peter (& Becky) Kellum of Cambridge; a daughter, Nancy L. Kellum of Columbus; five grandchildren, Ann Elizabeth Kellum, Jesse Blake Kellum III, Samuel Kellum, Marvin Kellum, and Lena Jacobs; and a great-grandchild, Madison Kellum. Family and friends may call on Monday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Thorn-Black Funeral Home, Cambridge, where funeral services will be held on Tuesday (January 15, 2013) at 11 a.m. with Evang. Woody Biggs officiating. Private burial services will be held at Guernsey Memory Gardens, Cambridge, at a later date. As an expression of sympathy, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Dr. Kellum's name to one of the following organizations: 1) Guernsey County Cancer Society, 927 E Wheeling Ave, Suite 205, Cambridge OH 43725; or 2) Hospice of Guernsey, PO Box 1165, Cambridge OH 43725.