Dr. Ronald A. Maddux, a loving husband, father and general surgeon passed away on Tuesday, November 14, 2017.

Dr. Maddux was the son of Albert Louis Maddux and Frances Vivian Maddux. He graduated with honors from Pensacola Junior College with an AA degree in Science and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honorary fraternity. Dr. Maddux received a BS Degree with honors in Biology from Millsaps College and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. He continued his studies and pursued a degree in medicine from the University of Miami College of Medicine. After graduating from medical school Dr. Maddux returned home and completed his internship and residency in general surgery at the University of Florida – Pensacola Education Program. His love of general surgery inspired him to open his private practice in Milton where he treated his patients with love and compassion for 26 years. Dr. Maddux planned on retiring, however, his love of medicine compelled him to work at the Santa Rosa Community Clinic for 16 years.

Dr. Maddux was a member of AMA, FMA and the Santa Rosa Medical Society. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was board certified in general surgery. He served as chief of surgery, chief of staff, and was a board member at Santa Rosa Medical Center. Dr. Maddux was a member of First Baptist Church of Pensacola and was the drummer for The Little Variety Band for 20 years. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting with his grandsons and friends in Brewton.

Dr. Maddux is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Janie; three children, Melissa (Matt) Vekasy, Jennifer (David) Skipper, and Dr. Mike (Christen) Maddux; he enjoyed the love of his grandchildren, Will Vekasy, Carson Vekasy, Lucas Vekasy, Matthew Skipper, Brandon Skipper, Blake Skipper, Lauren Skipper and Wyatt Maddux. Dr. Maddux is also survived by his father, Albert Maddux, sister, Karen (Jon) Nagel, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday, November 20, 2017, at Lewis Funeral Home, Milton Chapel.

Funeral Services will commence at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at First Baptist Church of Pensacola. Visitation will be held 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., prior to the service. Burial will follow services in Bayview Cemetery with Lewis Funeral Home directing.

Pallbearers are Matt Vekasy, David Skipper, Arnold Skipper, Terry Nettles, Geoff Nagel, Tim Nagel, Dr. Eduardo Puente, Mike Busald, Joe Busald and John Busald. Honorary pallbearers are the members of The Little Variety Band, Charlene Echols, Don Tomer and Mark Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society or First Baptist Church of Pensacola 20-20-Projects.

__________From Dr. Jon Nagel_______________

My Brother-in-Law, Ronald A. Maddux, M.D., lived his life according to this ancient prayer of Mamonides

I know because I too am a physician
And was privileged to listen and watch you
In the practice of Your Art for more for forty-three Years

We Will Miss You, Ron, but We Know You are With the Great Physician
Now in Perfect Peace and Harmony Forever

Almighty God, Thou has created the human body with infinite wisdom. Ten thousand times ten thousand organs hast Thou combined in it that act unceasingly and harmoniously to preserve the whole in all its beauty the body which is the envelope of the immortal soul. They are ever acting in perfect order, agreement and accord. Yet, when the frailty of matter or the unbridling of passions deranges this order or interrupts this accord, then forces clash and the body crumbles into the primal dust from which it came. Thou sendest to man diseases as beneficent messengers to foretell approaching danger and to urge him to avert it.

Thou has blest Thine earth, Thy rivers and Thy mountains with healing substances; they enable Thy creatures to alleviate their sufferings and to heal their illnesses. Thou hast endowed man with the wisdom to relieve the suffering of his brother, to recognize his disorders, to extract the healing substances, to discover their powers and to prepare and to apply them to suit every ill. In Thine Eternal Providence Thou hast chosen me to watch over the life and health of Thy creatures. I am now about to apply myself to the duties of my profession. Support me, Almighty God, in these great labors that they may benefit mankind, for without Thy help not even the least thing will succeed.

Inspire me with love for my art and for Thy creatures. Do not allow thirst for profit, ambition for renown and admiration, to interfere with my profession, for these are the enemies of truth and of love for mankind and they can lead astray in the great task of attending to the welfare of Thy creatures. Preserve the strength of my body and of my soul that they ever be ready to cheerfully help and support rich and poor, good and bad, enemy as well as friend. In the sufferer let me see only the human being. Illumine my mind that it recognize what presents itself and that it may comprehend what is absent or hidden. Let it not fail to see what is visible, but do not permit it to arrogate to itself the power to see what cannot be seen, for delicate and indefinite are the bounds of the great art of caring for the lives and health of Thy creatures. Let me never be absent-minded. May no strange thoughts divert my attention at the bedside of the sick, or disturb my mind in its silent labors, for great and sacred are the thoughtful deliberations required to preserve the lives and health of Thy creatures.

Grant that my patients have confidence in me and my art and follow my directions and my counsel. Remove from their midst all charlatans and the whole host of officious relatives and know-all nurses, cruel people who arrogantly frustrate the wisest purposes of our art and often lead Thy creatures to their death.

Should those who are wiser than I wish to improve and instruct me, let my soul gratefully follow their guidance; for vast is the extent of our art. Should conceited fools, however, censure me, then let love for my profession steel me against them, so that I remain steadfast without regard for age, for reputation, or for honor, because surrender would bring to Thy creatures sickness and death.

Imbue my soul with gentleness and calmness when older colleagues, proud of their age, wish to displace me or to scorn me or disdainfully to teach me. May even this be of advantage to me, for they know many things of which I am ignorant, but let not their arrogance give me pain. For they are old and old age is not master of the passions. I also hope to attain old age upon this earth, before Thee, Almighty God!

Let me be contented in everything except in the great science of my profession. Never allow the thought to arise in me that I have attained to sufficient knowledge, but vouchsafe to me the strength, the leisure and the ambition ever to extend my knowledge. For art is great, but the mind of man is ever expanding.
Almighty God! Thou hast chosen me in Thy mercy to watch over the life and death of Thy creatures. I now apply myself to my profession. Support me in this great task so that it may benefit mankind, for without Thy help not even the least thing will succeed.
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Sources:Translated by Harry Friedenwald. Bulletin of the Johns Hopkins Hospital 28 (1917): 260-261