More detail on this person: LTC Ronald Keith Dalrymple Commercial Appeal, Wednesday, February 5, 1997: Heart recipient 'lived life at full bore' By Mary Powers - The Commercial Appeal When a heart transplant rescued Ronald Dalrymple in 1985, he responded by returning to his job at Federal Express, getting married and enjoying his houseboat at Pickwick Lake. Dalrymple, of Cordova, died Monday of heart failure at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was 63 and one of the city's longest surviving heart transplant patients. "He knew that he had beaten the clock. He lived life at full bore" following the transplant, said Ray Dalrymple, his brother. When he received a new heart on Dec. 30, 1985, Ronald Dalrymple was just the third person to undergo the surgery at a Memphis hospital. After he recovered, Dalrymple often met with others who were considering the procedure. " He was always very positive. He made the most of his years after the transplant," said Denise Seaman, a clinical transplant coordinator for the Memphis Area Transplant Hospitals. The program has handled 112 heart transplants; 70 patients remain alive. Seaman said Dalrymple, who married in 1994, demonstrated life could return to normal following a transplant. His example helped allay patient fears, said Seaman, noting Dalrymple was the longest surviving local patient who hadn't undergone a second heart transplant. Dalrymple, a Memphis native, graduated from Louisiana State University and entered the Air Force intent on a career as a pilot. His career included three tours of duty in Vietnam, including a stint as a helicopter rescue pilot. Before a heart attack ended his 22-year military career in 1977, he earned a variety of honors, including a Bronze Star and a Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired as a lieutenant colonel and joined Federal Express, working as a flight training manager and systems instructor. Although he retired in 1995, he remained a consultant. Dalrymple became a transplant candidate in 1985 after his third heart attack. Doctors kept him alive for 20 days using a temporary heart pump until a suitable donor heart became available. Services will be at noon Thursday at Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Park. He was a Protestant. In addition to his brother, Mr. Dalrymple, the husband of Kass Dalrymple, also leaves two daughters, Christine Dalrymple of Memphis and Pamela Hutton of Columbia, Tenn.; a son, Keith Dalrymple; two step- daughters, Kimberly Kelly and Shelly Williams, all of Memphis, and five grand-children. The family requests that any memorials be sent to Baptist Memorial Hospital Foundation Baptist Heart Center.
Burial information: Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis, Tn
This information was last updated 09/29/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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