In Memory Of
Dr. B. Stodghill
1929
2023
Dr. B. Stodghill
April 3, 1929 — September 30, 2023
Dr. William B. Stodghill, 94, of New Albany, Indiana, died on Saturday, September 30, 2023. He was born at the Kentucky Baptist Hospital on Barret Avenue on April 3, 1929. His parents, Parker and Amy, had no other children.
His family survived the 1937 flood, living in the west end of Louisville, and then moved to high ground in the east end in 1941. At age 13, his first summer job was at City Hospital. Off duty he would roam the hospital, observe the flow of patients, watch autopsies, and he set his goal of becoming a physician.
He was president of the Castlewood Athletic Club and later the Athenaeum Literary Association. He did premed at W&L, where at age 16 he was one of six freshmen who were not returning from WWII. He is a Beta. After receiving an MD from the University Hospital in Baltimore. His roommate and lifelong friend was Milton Miller. There he mastered picking blue crabs and developed a taste for Chincoteague oysters on the half shell. Before returning to Louisville he served a two year stint as a Medical Officer at USNH, JAX, during which time the US went through an interval of peace. He enjoyed years of practicing Internal Medicine with his partners and buddies, John Llewellyn, Bill Schreiber, Esther Costel, and Mary Bryant. He was innovative in the intervention process for the disease of Chemical Dependency. He finally acknowledged his own compulsive gambling illness and entered into successful recovery in 1985. He was allowed to share the few things he knew for sure with medical students at U of L in the fields of physical diagnosis, Medical Ethics, and in the General Medicine and Endocrinology Clinics. After an unsuccessful retirement in 1998, he became useful practicing Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine with Hosparus. He quit practicing medicine at age 85.
He and his first wife, Sue Speed, divorced in 1985. They parented Speed (A.C.), Parker (Susan), and Whit. Their children are Breck, Katharine, Parker, Will, and Lloyd.
Julie, his sweetheart and wife of 37 years, brought him step-children, Taylor Duff (Ronelle), and Shannon Hood (Troy). Their children are Peyton, Bailey, Hunter, Hannah Claire, and Gabe. She also gave him the privilege of having three brothers-in-law, Roy, Guy, and Todd Sillings.
He cherished and was grateful for family vacations. He and Julie had many happy times at Pawleys Island, Key West, and NYC. He loved his patients and enjoyed experiencing nature. His favorite fishing spots were at Lake Beauchene in Quebec, the Sun and Missouri Rivers in Montana, Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee, and Crystal Lake in Michigan.
He had lunch weekly with six of his lifelong buddies, PeeWee Koehler, Herc Crawford, Charlie Castner, Bob Vaughan, Bob Halliday, and Bert Trompeter. Average age of 93.
His search for serenity was enhanced by years of dreamwork with Jungian analyst, P.J. Manion SL. He continued to have getaways to Saratoga Race Course annually as a spectator. He was a long standing advocate for the Episcopal Church Home. He became an Episcopalian in 1956. He most recently was a member of the St. Matthew's Episcopal Church where all who thirst and hunger are welcome at the rail.
For many years, sixty of his closest male friends looked forward to their invitation to Stodg's Annual Super Bowl Party. He had an audience with Pope John Paul II. He hosted Lenny Lyles at one of his Super Bowl parties and had a drink with Woody Stephens the day his filly, White Star Line, won the Oaks. He was in line behind Raymond Berry in his underwear being processed for induction into the Navy. Raymond was 4F. He shook hands with Barack Obama, starred in a variety show with Roger Mudd while at W&L, and viewed St. Peter's bones in a crypt sixty feet below the altar of St. Peter's Basilica with Vernon Robertson. He received gifts from Jesus Christ daily.
His body has been cremated. Remember him the next time you see a sunset or sunrise, cash a ticket at Keeneland, sip a Martini or an Old Fashioned. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Julie and his family will disperse his elements at special sites chosen by Bill. He was always grateful for the good life he enjoyed. He left this life hopeful for more.
A special thanks to his Hosparus caregivers, Brittany, Vanessa, Brian, Rachel, and Rosie.
Contributions to Kenya Kids at Rongo (5607 Apache Rd, Louisville, KY 40207) would be a worthy substitute for flowers or tears.
His family survived the 1937 flood, living in the west end of Louisville, and then moved to high ground in the east end in 1941. At age 13, his first summer job was at City Hospital. Off duty he would roam the hospital, observe the flow of patients, watch autopsies, and he set his goal of becoming a physician.
He was president of the Castlewood Athletic Club and later the Athenaeum Literary Association. He did premed at W&L, where at age 16 he was one of six freshmen who were not returning from WWII. He is a Beta. After receiving an MD from the University Hospital in Baltimore. His roommate and lifelong friend was Milton Miller. There he mastered picking blue crabs and developed a taste for Chincoteague oysters on the half shell. Before returning to Louisville he served a two year stint as a Medical Officer at USNH, JAX, during which time the US went through an interval of peace. He enjoyed years of practicing Internal Medicine with his partners and buddies, John Llewellyn, Bill Schreiber, Esther Costel, and Mary Bryant. He was innovative in the intervention process for the disease of Chemical Dependency. He finally acknowledged his own compulsive gambling illness and entered into successful recovery in 1985. He was allowed to share the few things he knew for sure with medical students at U of L in the fields of physical diagnosis, Medical Ethics, and in the General Medicine and Endocrinology Clinics. After an unsuccessful retirement in 1998, he became useful practicing Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine with Hosparus. He quit practicing medicine at age 85.
He and his first wife, Sue Speed, divorced in 1985. They parented Speed (A.C.), Parker (Susan), and Whit. Their children are Breck, Katharine, Parker, Will, and Lloyd.
Julie, his sweetheart and wife of 37 years, brought him step-children, Taylor Duff (Ronelle), and Shannon Hood (Troy). Their children are Peyton, Bailey, Hunter, Hannah Claire, and Gabe. She also gave him the privilege of having three brothers-in-law, Roy, Guy, and Todd Sillings.
He cherished and was grateful for family vacations. He and Julie had many happy times at Pawleys Island, Key West, and NYC. He loved his patients and enjoyed experiencing nature. His favorite fishing spots were at Lake Beauchene in Quebec, the Sun and Missouri Rivers in Montana, Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee, and Crystal Lake in Michigan.
He had lunch weekly with six of his lifelong buddies, PeeWee Koehler, Herc Crawford, Charlie Castner, Bob Vaughan, Bob Halliday, and Bert Trompeter. Average age of 93.
His search for serenity was enhanced by years of dreamwork with Jungian analyst, P.J. Manion SL. He continued to have getaways to Saratoga Race Course annually as a spectator. He was a long standing advocate for the Episcopal Church Home. He became an Episcopalian in 1956. He most recently was a member of the St. Matthew's Episcopal Church where all who thirst and hunger are welcome at the rail.
For many years, sixty of his closest male friends looked forward to their invitation to Stodg's Annual Super Bowl Party. He had an audience with Pope John Paul II. He hosted Lenny Lyles at one of his Super Bowl parties and had a drink with Woody Stephens the day his filly, White Star Line, won the Oaks. He was in line behind Raymond Berry in his underwear being processed for induction into the Navy. Raymond was 4F. He shook hands with Barack Obama, starred in a variety show with Roger Mudd while at W&L, and viewed St. Peter's bones in a crypt sixty feet below the altar of St. Peter's Basilica with Vernon Robertson. He received gifts from Jesus Christ daily.
His body has been cremated. Remember him the next time you see a sunset or sunrise, cash a ticket at Keeneland, sip a Martini or an Old Fashioned. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Julie and his family will disperse his elements at special sites chosen by Bill. He was always grateful for the good life he enjoyed. He left this life hopeful for more.
A special thanks to his Hosparus caregivers, Brittany, Vanessa, Brian, Rachel, and Rosie.
Contributions to Kenya Kids at Rongo (5607 Apache Rd, Louisville, KY 40207) would be a worthy substitute for flowers or tears.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dr. B. Stodghill, please visit our flower store.
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