Robert Dugan Gillahan

Dr. Gillahan died Saturday, Aug. 21, 2004, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor following many years of declining health.

He was born Sept. 25, 1926, in Lawson, Mo., the son of William and Georgia Roper Gillahan. He had lived in Lawrence since 1952. He was a former resident of Kansas City, Mo.

He attended schools in Missouri, graduating from Excelsior Springs High School and William Jewell College in Liberty. He served in the Army Air Forces from 1944 to 1946. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Dental School in 1952.

Dr. Gillahan practiced dentistry in Lawrence from 1952 to 1974. He also remained involved at the UMKC Dental School as an associate professor from 1974 to 1987. From 1979 to 1985 he served as the Occlusion Department chairman, director of occlusion and co-chairman of the Tempro Mandibular Joint Clinic. He received honorary diplomas from the University of Mexico in 1977 and the University of Paraguay in 1979.

As a member of Partners of the Americas, Dr. Gillahan was a lecturer in Mexico City, Pueblo and Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1977 and 1978 and in Paraguay in 1979, 1981 and 1983. He was on staff at Truman Medical Center and Mercy Hospitals from 1980 to 1985.

Throughout his career at UMKC Dental School, Dr. Gillahan was a contributor to professional dental journals, authored an occlusion manual and was named teacher of the year. He also was a member of the Ortho-Occlusal Study Club, American Equilibration Society and former president of the Douglas County Dental Study Club and First District Dental Society.

He was active in the Lawrence community and a partner in real estate development. He was a former chairman of the board of directors of the Achievement Place for Boys; president and member of the Lawrence Country Club; president of KU Downtown Quarterback Club; vice president of the Noon Cosmopolitan Club; a Mason and a member of the Abdallah Shrine.

He married Marjorie Mossman in July 1953 in Lexington, Mo. She survives, of the home.

Other survivors include three daughters, Sally Gillahan, Newton, Sara Gillahan and Dr. Susan Gillahan Hall, Lawrence; a brother, Dr. Jude Gillahan, Cameron, Mo.; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Millie Wormsley.

The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Presbyterian Manor Van Fund or to the Roy Rhinehart Foundation at UMKC, sent in care of the mortuary.

Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Gillahan.