It is with a heavy heart and my deepest sympathy that we learn, through a message from Jerry O’Brien, of the passing of another of our Distinguished Veterans and a Valued Comrade. Dr Loran B. “Doc” Morgan, Hq 466th PFA passed away on 23 November, 2009. With an assist from Ed Siergiej I was able to contact the family to obtain the essential information for this message.
Upon graduating from High School Dr. Morgan entered the University of Minnesota where he graduated in 1940 with two degrees in premedicine. Following the war Dr. Morgan established his first medical practice in Gilmam, CO. He made many hazardous trips by auto and airplane to serve the region’s scattered population. In 1957 he returned to the University of Minnesota to complete his degree in Ophthalmology. During the Vietnam War he volunteered for four tours of service to treat the civilians. From that experience he invented an eye irrigation device called the “Morgan Lens” a device now used through out the world. Following his retirement he spent his time enjoying his passion for playing golf and flying. The family would spend six months in Torrington and six months in Palm Desert, CA playing golf and flying his private plane. He joined our Association in 1979, became a Life Member in 1986 and attended some 12 Annual Association Reunions. In his later years Dr. Morgan was a victim of some heart problems with the cause of death being pneumonia at the age of 91.
Obituary is available at www.torringtontelegram.com while the Guest Book is available at www.colyerfuneralhome.com
Obituary as published today is as follows :
Loran B. Morgan
October 14, 1918 – November 23, 2009
Memorial services with Military Honors for Loran B. Morgan, M.D., 91, will be held Saturday, Nov. 28, at 1 p.m. at the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church with Reverend Steven Seng officiating. “Doc” Morgan died on Nov. 23 at Community Hospital in Torrington. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Torrington. Memorials can be made to the Western History Center Youth Program at 2308 US HWY 26 Lingle, WY 82240. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends are invited to send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com.
Sand greens and sagebrush made golf even tougher than it had to be according to Dr. Loran B. (Bud) Morgan. In the early 1950s, Bud made daily summer visits to Torrington’s golf course where he and a few buddies arranged a well and started the first grass green (hole No. 3). Bud’s work on the burgeoning Torrington Wyoming golf course is only a small part of his rich and varied legacy.
He was born in Pipestone, Minn., Oct. 14, 1918, the fourth of five children born to William Towner Morgan and Mabelle Courtenay (Brown) Morgan. Loran grew up next door to his grandparents, Warrington B. Brown and Mary Halliday Brown. He had fond lifelong memories of his grandfather, a Civil War veteran, who died when Loran was a freshman in college. Bud was valedictorian of the Class of 1936, Pipestone High School, where he succeeded in sports and academic achievement. Upon graduation, he entered the University of Minnesota where he graduated in 1940 with two bachelor degrees in premedicine.
After graduating from medical school, he began his internship at St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver, Colo., where he met a nurse from Torrington, Elizabeth (Beth) Ashburn, whom he married in 1944. Upon completion of his internship, Bud joined the US Army and eventually became a paratrooper and a battalion surgeon with the 17th Airborne. He made several combat jumps into Europe. In 1945 he parachuted into Germany, with the 17th’s Operation Varsity, setting up an aide station to treat the wounded. For his heroism, he earned the Bronze Star.
Upon discharge, he had achieved the rank of Major. For the rest of his life, Bud kept in contact with his fellow soldiers and attended annual airborne reunions.
Following the war, Bud set up his first medical practice in Gilman, Colo., where he ran a hospital to treat zinc-mining personnel. As the only physician in two counties, he made hazardous mountain runs by car and private airplane to serve that region’s scattered population. It was the need to treat remote patients that drove him to his passion of flying. After his experience in Gilman, Bud moved to Torrington where he pursued a long career as a general practitioner with the Torrington Medical Group. In 1957, he returned to the UMN to complete a degree in ophthalmology.
During the Vietnam War, Bud volunteered for four terms of service in Vietnam where he treated Vietnamese civilians, many of whom suffered eye burns. From that experience, he invented an eye-irrigation device called the Morgan Lens, an instrument now used throughout the world for treating eye injuries. A longtime member of the American Legion, Bud served one year as a Wyoming State Commander. His upbringing and military knowledge gave him a deep sense of love of country. Doctor Morgan was a member of the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church and a life member of Travis Snow Post No. 5 of the American Legion in Torrington.
Doc Morgan is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Beth, of Torrington, daughter, Beth Bowens and her husband Bo of Lakewood, Colo., and his son Dan Towner Morgan of Missoula, Mont., five grandchildren, Lyndsey, Zachary, Mariah, James, and Ryan, and a brother William Towner Morgan of Sartell,Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, W. Stannard Morgan and George Alan Morgan, his sister, Courtenay Morgan Forman, and daughter-in-law Pam Morgan.
Mrs Elizabeth Morgan
138 Linda Vista Rd
Torrington, WY 82240
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Morgan Family.
Sincerely,
Del Townsend
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