Dr. James Gilbert Punches, 85, of Vero Beach, passed away on May 16, 2016, at VNA Hospice House.
He is survived by daughters Kim P Haines of Morgan City, La., and Michelle (Doug) Dean of Vero Beach; son Jeff Punches of Vero Beach; nephew Scott Punches of Everett, Wash.; five grandchildren; Grayce, Blake, Emily and Logan Haines all of Morgan City, La., and Dylan Dean of Vero Beach.
He was preceded in death by his wife Betty, his parents Howard and Grayce Punches, his brother Ki Punches, his half-sister Betty Daso, a half-brother Harmon Punches, a nephew Perry Punches, his in-laws Howard and Jackie Lamb and numerous aunts and an uncle.
Known as “a man of few words,” Punches was born on May 24, 1930, in Toledo, Ohio, to Howard and Grayce (Jarvis) Punches.
Punches had a passion for sailing and being on the water. He became a member of the United States Power Squadron on Jan. 21, 1946. He graduated from Thomas DeVilbiss High School in 1948. He also attended and graduated from Kemper Military School in Boonville, Mo., in 1950.
His mother, Grayce, was a nurse and that may have influenced him to pursue the medical field. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toledo in 1952. He then attended Ohio State University and received a Doctor of Medicine in 1956. On Sept. 1, 1956 he was appointed reserve officer in the U.S. Navy in the grade of Lieutenant (medical corps) and was discharged on July 7, 1959. He then completed his internship at the Toledo Hospital from July 1956 to July 1957. He completed his residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in July of 1961 with the University Of Miami School Of Medicine.
He became the first Anesthesiologist in Vero Beach in 1962. He was well loved at the hospital and often requested by patients. He retired from Indian River Memorial Hospital in 1999.
After retirement, this gave him lots of time to play golf, another passion of his and many summers sailing in the Bahamas Regatta races every July. He was a lifetime member of the Vero Beach Country Club since 1963. He will be remembered for his laid back personality and always having a smile on his face.
Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory is handling arrangements.
