Dr. William Barton Dick of Lexington died Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. 

He was born Aug. 30, 1940, in Morristown, Tenn., and raised with four sisters. His career as a surgeon was shaped by spending a great deal of time in hospitals as a child, receiving multiple operations on his hands from a farm injury. 

Barton graduated from The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn. He attended Washington and Lee University for his undergraduate work and fell in love with Lexington. In his junior and senior years there, he captained two undefeated seasons of the W&L football team, named the "Nation's Outstanding Small College Football Team" by the Washington Post. 

He attended medical school at Duke University before starting surgical training at the University of Kentucky. During his training, he volunteered for the Vietnam War with the Navy and served as a battalion surgeon with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. Returning to Camp Lejeune, he was assigned to the Orthopaedic service and subsequently transferred into that program to finish his training at Kentucky.

He returned to Lexington in 1974 as its first orthopaedic surgeon. A beloved physician, he cared for thousands in the community until his retirement in 2003. 

Before retiring, he was instrumental in bringing Kendal at Lexington to the community. Barton served on the vestry of R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church (now Grace Episcopal) and the boards of Stonewall Jackson Hospital and Kendal. He enjoyed working with Habitat for Humanity and the local food pantry. Barton was a voracious reader of history. He appreciated hard work, the company of family and friends, and a bad joke.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh William Dick and Margaret Richardson Dick, and his sisters, Cynthia Lawless and Julia Mays.

Surviving are his wife, Gail Gordon Dick; children Barton Harris (Kristen), Joseph Kevin Dick (Lisa), and Mary Kathryn Calhoun (Ben); stepchildren Tami Polakiewicz Galik (Bruce), and Barbara Polakiewicz Neel; grandchildren Anna Grace, Ruby, Sammy, Noah, Pierson, and Savannah; step-grandchildren Caleb, Kurtis, and Jacob; siblings Catherine Ray and Margaret Cowan (Jim); former wife and mother of his children Joy Harris; and many nieces and nephews.

Per Barton's wishes, no services will be held at this time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Grace Episcopal Church at 123 W. Washington St. or Rockbridge Area Habitat For Humanity at 30 E Preston St.