Dr. William Perdue

Dr. William Lang Perdue II M.D., 60, passed away June 17, 2010 in Topeka, Kansas after a nine year battle with cancer. He was born in Topeka on October 29, 1949. His parents were William Lang Perdue and Margaret O'Neil (Archer) Perdue. He graduated from Topeka West High School in 1967. He graduated from the University of Kansas magna cum laude, BA in Chemistry and English in 1971 with membership in Phi Beta Kappa honorary society. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1974. He completed a residency in general surgery at the University of Utah in 1980. After practicing one year in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he returned to Topeka first in group practice with Drs. Ben Powell and Eugene Sherwood from 1981 until 1990 and then solo practice from 1990 until 1999. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery for the University of Kansas School of Medicine from 1983 until 1999. He was employed by the Scott & White Clinic in College Station, Texas
from 1999 until 2005. He was an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Texas A & M Health Sciences Center, winning a teaching award in 2005. He returned to Topeka, in 2005 joining the Cotton-O'Neil Clinic. He retired from the practice of surgery shortly before his death. He was a member of the American Medical Association and the American Society of Breast Surgeons. He was twice chairman of the ACS Community Cancer Program at St. Francis Hospital.

He had a lifelong interest in history. He was a Civil War re-enactor and provided historical lectures on military and medical history to schools and civic groups. He was a founding member of the NE Kansas Civil War Roundtable. He was an avid sailor and while in Topeka, was a member of the Shawnee Yacht Club from 1966 until 1998.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an older sister Lise Lynn, whose death at age 8 influenced him to become a doctor. He is survived by his wife Sheri Cree Perdue and sons, William Lang Perdue III of the home, Christopher (Salina, KS), Ben (Steamboat Springs, CO), Jim Lewis (Holly) of Lawrence, KS; sister, Stacy A. Lowe (Tim) of Topeka, and three grandchildren, Laurent and Tim Lewis, and Cal Wallersteadt.

Funeral services will be held at St. David's Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 21, 2010. Burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery, Lawrence, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606 or Cotton O'Neil Cancer Center, 1414 SW 8th, Topeka, KS 66606.