WILLMORE

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 05:58:05 :

Independent Journal
Monday, October 1, 1962
Page 1

Veterinarian Dies; Auto Avoided Cat

A San Rafael veterinarian swerved his car early yesterday to avoid hitting a cat, cut his head when it struck a car window, and died three hours later after first refusing hospitalization.

An autopsy today failed to disclose a cause of death.

Dr. James Henry Willmore, 53, of 83 Bret Harte Road, owner of Willmore’s Pet Hospital in Larkspur, was found by Police Officer Gerald Souza at 1:33 a.m. yesterday, lying beside Bret Harte Road, about 50 yards from where his pickup truck hung over an embankment, its front wheels on the shoulder of the road.

Police were called by Jack W. Liljeberg of 301 Bret Harte Road, who was awakened by some youths who saw the truck dangling over the edge of the road. Several neighbors meantime arrived and covered Willmore with a blanket.

Willmore told the officer he had swerved his truck to avoid hitting a cat. The truck slipped off the road and as he attempted to get it back on the street, the rear end dropped over the edge of the embankment. He cut his head against a window of the truck.

He refused to be taken to a hospital until urged by Souza and others. He walked to the patrol car, and walked into the emergency room at San Rafael General Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital, and died at 4:45 a.m.

Dr. David Johnson, who attended him, said the injury might have contributed to a heart attack, but no cause of death was apparent. Dr. Henry J. Plumhof, who performed the autopsy, said there was no visible cause of death. A pathological report was awaited.

“We are not listing this as a traffic death, pending the pathological report,” said Coroner Frank J. Keaton.

Willmore had resided in Marin County for 36 years and had been a doctor of veterinary medicine for 20 years. He was born in Preston, Idaho.

He was a member of the Marin County Veterinarian Assn., California Camellia Society, and Latter-Day Saints Church.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Latter-Day Saints chapel in Greenbrae. Inurnment will be in Preston, Idaho. Friends may call at Harry M. Williams Mortuary, San Rafael, until 9 a.m. tomorrow.

The family prefers that tributes be contributions to the Diabetic Youth Foundation, 1429 Fourth Avenue, San Francisco.