John Kent Guild

Dr. John Kent Guild Family

Judith Drommp Guild and Kohn Kent Guild, M.D. were attracted to Plymouth in 1961 because of preference for living in a county seat town in Indiana near Lake Maxinkuckee where Judy's parents had a summer cottage. Grandparents were an important part of the family.

John Kent Guild was born March 5, 1931 in Indianapolis and grew up in Fairland, population 800, the youngest child with two older sisters. His father was Merrill Daniel Guild, general manager of Indiana Grain Co-op in Indianapolis. His mother, Lily Elizabeth Net Guild, was a teacher. Kent graduated in a class of 12 form Fairland High School in 1949.

Judith Barnes Drommp Guild was born in Logansport and graduated from Logansport High School in 1949.

She was also the youngest of three children with two older sisters Judy spent all the summers of her life since the age of two at a summer cottage on Lake Maxinkuckee.

Judy and Kent met at DePauw University coincidentally because their respective offices of Panhellenic Council President and Interfraternity Council President.

Judy was also president of her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. Kent was president of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and captain of the DePauw basketball team. It is not surprising that three of their four children have graduated from DePauw University. Their youngest Sarah Elizabeth, is currently a sophomore and will be the 60^th member of the Guild family to graduate from DePauw. Kent is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the university.

While Kent attended Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, Judy taught second grade at Longfellow School in Logansport for two years. On June 25, 1955 they were married at the St. James Lutheran Church, Logansport. Judy then taught in Oaklawn, Illinois. Kent finished his two years of medical school and graduated in 1957. While a medical student Kent was the national president of the Student American Medical Association.

Kent interned at Indianapolis Methodist Hospital where the Guild's first child, John Kent Guild Jr., was born When the Guilds lived on Beale Air force Base in California where Kent was a medical officer, Anne Lucile Guild was born .

The Guild family lived at 1169 Pennsylvania Avenue for a year and a half. Then they lived at 800 North Center three and a half years. Steven Alan Guild and Sarah Elizabeth Guild August of 1966 the family moved into a new home at 10515 Nutmeg Road. It was their 10^th move in 11 years of marriage.

Kent and Mildred Hurford and others founded Marshall-Starke Development Center with Kent serving as its first president in 1965. Fred Morrow and Kent founded the Plymouth Athletic Boosters Club at Schori's Restaurant in 1965 with Kent serving as its first president. Kent has served in all the offices of the Parkview Hospital Medical Staff and the Marshall County Medical Society, but has developed his medical leadership time as permanent education program director since 1969. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Physicians. He was president of United Way. In 1966 Kent was chosen one of five Outstanding Young Men of Indiana by the Indiana Jaycees.

Judy's number one priority is her family but she has been active in a number of community project including Tri Kappa. She is currently a member of the State Board of Mental Health, secretary of the Plymouth Public Library Leasing Corporation, and secretary of the State council of Tri Kappa.

Judy and Kent have been active in First United Methodist Church as teachers, committee members and regular attenders. They feel that church involvement is a vital and important part of their lives. They have encouraged their children to active participation in Plymouth schools and DePauw University. The four children have responded by being in the band, class officers, student council members, lettermen, cheerleaders, and good students.

John Kent Guild, Jr. was graduated from Plymouth High School and DePauw University and Purdue University, engineering. He works as an engineer for Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis. He is engaged to Dana Anne Grabb and will be married April 5, 1986.

Anne Lucile Guild was graduated from Plymouth High School and from DePauw University, in elementary education. Anne taught one year at West Elementary School in Plymouth and now teaches in Lebanon Community Schools. She married Brian Stuart Adams, son of Clifford and Lorraine Adams, Plymouth.

Steven Alan Guild was graduated from Plymouth High School and DePauw University He is currently working for the Pan-American Games organization in Indianapolis.

Sarah Elizabeth Guild graduated from Plymouth High School . She is a sophomore at DePauw University, - Dr. Kent Guild. - - History of Marshall County Indiana Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986 -, Taylor Publishing Co., 1986, Publication # 357 of 1422, Marshall County Historical Society pg. 190.

---

Dr. J. Kent Guild
March 5, 1931 — January 21, 2007

PLYMOUTH — Dr. J. Kent Guild, 75, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 21, 2007, surrounded by family at home after battling leukemia.

Kent was born March 5,1931, in Indianapolis to Merrill Daniel Guild and Lily Kent Guild of Fairland, Ind. He graduated from Fairland High School in 1949. He graduated from DePauw University magna cum laude in 1953 and graduated from Northwestern University School of Medicine in 1957.

At DePauw he was a member of Gold Key honorary and served as president of the Interfraternity Council and president of his fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon. While at DePauw he also won the m3333333heart of Judith Barnes Drompp. He and Judy were married on June 25, 1955, in Logansport, Ind.

While a medical student at Northwestern, Kent was elected National President of the Student American Medical Association in 1957. He served as a captain in the United States Air Force at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., from 1959 to 1961. He and Judy came to Plymouth in 1961.

Kent thoroughly enjoyed his career as a family practice physician. His practice began in 1961 with Dr. Louring Vore and Dr. Ronald Peterson at their offices at 116 E. Washington St. He estimated he delivered about 2,000 babies and observed a disproportionate share of them came at night.

He also made hundreds of house calls and personally dispensed medical care and compassion to thousands of patients. When he retired in 2000, he was delighted to turn his practice over to Dr. Joel Schumacher, Dr. Tod Stillson and Dr. Craig Miller. He was proud to help bring them to Plymouth and to entrust his patients to them.

Athletics were always an important part of Kent's life. As a youth, he enjoyed his father's passion for hunting and fishing. He also participated in basketball, softball, track & field,and baseball for Fairland High School. In basketball, he led the Hornets to a sectional victory defeating local powers such as Shelbyville and Columbus before losing in the regional finals to eventual state runner-up Madison. Kent followed family tradition and attended DePauw where he played varsity basketball three years for the Tigers. Highlights include scoring 21 points against Iowa and finishing his career with a 33 point output against rival Wabash. His DePauw career was recognized with his induction into DePauw's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Kent's passion for sports continued in Plymouth where he became team physician for Plymouth High School and a co-founder of the Plymouth Athletic Booster Club. The Plymouth High School Athletic Department honored Kent's 34 years of service by naming their new Athletic Training Center after him in 2006.

Physically fit throughout his life, Kent enjoyed many sports but mostly racquetball and golf as an adult. He played golf often with many of his friends as a member of Plymouth Country Club. Kent had few regrets but one of them was never having a hole-in-one.

Kent was an active member of the Plymouth First United Methodist Church and served in a number of roles from Sunday School teacher to Lay Leader to representative to the Northern Indiana Annual Conference. As an active alumnus of DePauw, Kent served on the Alumni Board and the Board of Trustees. He served as the first chairman of the United Methodist Council of DePauw University. He served as physician on DePauw Winter Term medical mission trips to Conacaste, Guatemala and Puno, Peru.

Kent was active in his profession and in his community. Kent was a co-founder and the first president of the Marshall-Starke Development Center. He was past president of the Plymouth Hospital Medical Staff, Hospital Board of Trustees, the Marshall County Medical Association and the United Way. In 1966 he was recognized as one of five “Outstanding Young Men of Indiana” by the Jaycees. With Judy, he received the 2001 Community Spirit Award.

One of the things Kent enjoyed most was simply spending time with his family and grandchildren. This was especially true in the summertime which Kent and Judy spent at their cottage on Lake Maxinkuckee sailing, swimming and playing games such as dominos and cards with family members who would visit often.

Fundamentally, Kent had a positive attitude. He would frequently observe that he had a great life and was blessed. He often said he was “a lucky guy.” Even at the end, Kent chose to focus not on his disease but rather on his 75 very good years.

He is survived by wife Judith Drompp Guild and children John K. Guild, Jr. of Indianapolis and wife Dana; Anne Guild Adams of Indianapolis and husband Brian; Steven A. Guild of Athens, Georgia and wife Teri; and Sarah Guild Smith of Plymouth and husband Tim. Kent and Judy have 12 grandchildren: Emily Judith Adams (16), Laura Elizabeth Guild (14), Sarah Ruth Adams (12), J. Kent Guild III (12), Kevin Stuart Adams (11), Ellen Guild Smith (10), Curtis Guild Smith (8), Leah Guild Smith (6), Hugh Guild Smith (4), Kaitlyn Faith Guild (3), Allison Grace Guild (3), and David Allan Guild (1).

He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by two sisters: Mary Guild Lothamer of Canton, Ohio, and Susan Guild Trauba of Loomis, Calif. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family.

The community is invited to celebrate his life on Friday, Jan. 26 from 3 - 8 pm in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sat. in the First United Methodist Church, 400 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, the Rev. Dr. Dean Fager, Pastor will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth Campus or First United Methodist Church, c/o the Marshall Co. Community Foundation Fund, 2701 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, IN 46563 Envelopes will be available at the funeral home or church.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the Web site: johnson-danielson.com. - - Plymouth Pilot - 22 Jan 2007