Dr. Richard Greene Sr. cared for all types of animals, but cats were his favorite.
The Marietta veterinarian kept about 20 of them inside and around the Twilley-Greene Animal Clinic on Austell Road. Most came from animal shelters and all had some type of ailment. Some were rescued from around the trash bin at his clinic. "Sambo," his favorite, lived at his apartment in Marietta.
"He would never bring a fully healthy one home, just the ones who had three legs or no ears," said a son, Ken R. Greene of Lumpkin. "He just knew that nobody was going to adopt cats that had these problems, so he'd take them in."
Dr. Greene ran a veterinary clinic in Americus, his hometown, for 20 years. He also spent time as a relief vet for Dr. Robert F. Twilley of Marietta. He sold his Americus practice in 1984, joined Dr. Twilley full-time, and bought the operation when Dr. Twilley died in 2002.
This vet never used a computer. If he was unsure or had a question, he'd refer to his medical books, said clinic staffer Bobbie McGinty.
"He had compassion for all animals," she said. "But his heart went out to the cats."
On Sunday, Dr. Greene didn't show up for work and apparently died in his sleep from a suspected brain aneurysm. He was 70. A memorial service was held Wednesday at First United Methodist Church of Marietta; another one takes place 11 a.m. Friday at Aldridge Funeral Services in Americus.
Dr. Greene was born and raised in Americus and returned there after graduating in 1964 from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. He often worked seven days a week.
"He was 70 years old and that's what he did," his son said. "The [Marietta] business gave him enough work, but not so much that he had to be on his feet 10 hours a day."
Dr. Greene worked for Cobb County Animal Control for more than 25 years. In 1978, the Eagle Scout served as president of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, of which he was a lifetime member. He is predeceased by a granddaughter, Mary Elaine Greene.
In Americus, Dr. Greene spent time on the Flint River duck hunting, fishing and deer hunting. In the mid-1990s, he realized a childhood dream when he canoed from one end of the tributary to the other. He tackled the Flint after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer.
"It took five years to do the whole trip because he had to do it in segments," his son said. "That was a very proud moment for my dad. He'd put in, then have someone meet him at a designated spot to pull out."
Survivors besides his son include his former wife, Mary Moseley Greene of Buckhead; another son, Richard H. Greene Jr. of Cartersville; a daughter, Angel G. Logue of Bluffton, S.C.; three sisters, Grace Pace of Marietta; Mildred McMillan of Tonganoxie, Kan., and Julia Neel of Thomasville; three brothers, William L. Greene of Moncks Corner, S.C.; Jimmy P. Greene and David A. Greene, both of Americus; and five grandchildren.
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