Dr. Janice F. Gable, 70, formerly of Konnarock, VA, passed away January 22, 2016, at her home in Westville, NJ.
Janice was born in Port Hueneme, CA, and grew up in Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. After undergraduate study at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, she received her M.D. from Indiana University at Indianapolis, and interned at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL.
In 1971 Dr. Gable came to Konnarock in southwestern Virginia with her husband Rev. William Gable and established a solo rural family practice. Her 34 years of service to that community were exemplary. She had a patient load of about 5,000 people, and was available 24 hours a day. Working closely with the very committed Mt. Rogers Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, she conducted training sessions and served as medical director. Her office staff and area home nurses, also very devoted to good health care, always served with highest distinction and dedication. In this region, where hospitals and specialists are sometimes too distant when needed, Dr. Gable and her team did it all—from births and deaths to minor surgeries and emergencies of all kinds. And, yes, she even made house calls in her four-wheel drive.
“Dr. Jan,” as she was known, was also certified in geriatric medicine and in 2005 she accepted a position at a geriatric continuing care facility in Alexandria, VA. She retired to Westville, NJ, in 2013.
Jan delighted in many leisure activities, including piano playing, fine craftwork, and stimulating reading—but above all she enjoyed a lifelong love of gardening.
Jan is survived by sons Matthew Gable and Claude Gable, father James E. Fox, sisters Joyce Fox and Jean Fox, niece Beverly Richardson, and nephews Jacob Richardson, James Richardson, and Cole Fox. She is preceded in death by her mother, June Rommel Fox, and her sister, Judith Somer Fox.
Private family services will be held in Florida at a later date. Memorial donations can be made at cancer.org or to your favorite charity in her name.
Tributes
Leave a tribute-- her ever-loving Family
Just sitting here, minding my own business... and suddenly you popped into my head and right through my heart. I miss and love you still and will alwaysl hold you in such an enduring place. I pray your family knows that you are ever watching over us all. Wouldn't be like you... not to be. Happy Birthday... my sweet friend and mentor. Rheda
am blessed to have known her
dear fried. She helped both my late husband and me through
several ailments and was always available to discuss medical issues.
She lives on in my memory as a very important part of my life here
at the Greenspring Retirement community where she worked for
several years and was beloved by all her patients.
at Greenspring Retirement community from 2006 until her retirement.
My husband and I felt that Dr. Gable was the best diagnostian, most
dedicated and brilliant doctor we had ever had, and we have had many both in the U.S. and abroad with the U.S. State Department. Dr. Gable
was highly respected and loved here at Greenspring and all her patients
felt especially lucky to have her. She and I kept up an email friendship
after she retired and shared many thoughts as well as a book written by
my late husband, which she enjoyed reading. She will be missed by all who knew her, loved her, admired her and cared so much for her. Her shining light has not been dimmed by her passing.
lady. Prayers for the family during this hard time.
George and Wendy Strawbridge
The rest of the family. She will be greatly missed by all.
Leave a Tribute
I once visited Dr. Jan in Konnarock in 1976. I had been her classmate at Indiana University School of Medicine where she was outstanding in every way. She was exceptionally nice, caring and thoughtful.And a top student! At Konnarock she filled a great need. She was the only medical and health care there, but she could do it! (She could do anything) She did just one year of training after medical school. Today no one is allowed to do less than three. She went to Konnarock. That took great confidence and courage. She told us of how she wanted her husband to deliver her baby. This was, of course, not permitted at the area hospitals. Konnarock was definitely not the place to be if there were unexpected complications of a home delivery. So they went to a city where she had been getting prenatal care and checked into a motel. And what a "surprise." The baby came suddenly and Bill had to do the delivery as she had coached him. They then went to the hospital for postpartum and newborn care. I believe it was their first child. Everything went well, of course. Few motels have had planned unplanned baby deliveries.