Dr. John Allen Dyer

Dr. John Allen Dyer, 86, of Grace Ridge Retirement Community, Morganton, NC, formerly of Rochester, MN, died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Grace Hospital. Dr. Dyer was born to Vernon and Ruth Hickle Dyer in Petersburg, WV on July 28, 1923. He was educated at Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, PA, received his B.S. degree from Haverford College, Haverford, PA, and his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA.After completing an internship at Reading Hospital, Reading, PA, he entered a general practice residency at Memorial Hospital in Cumberland, MD, after which he opened a private practice in Cumberland.He served as a Flight Surgeon in the Medical Corps of the United States Air Force from 1951-1953, after which he came to Rochester as a fellow in Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic for three years. During this time he received a Master of Science Degree in Ophthalmology from the University of Minnesota Graduate School of Medicine. He joined the staff at Mayo in 1956 as a Consultant of Ophthalmology and rose to the rank of Professor in Mayo Medical School. He was the author of a textbook: Atlas of Extraocular Muscle Surgery, co-author of The Orbit in Thyroid Disease and also co-author of a text entitled Binocular Oculomotor Imbalance. He was author of some 60 publications in ophthalmic journals.

Dr. Dyer was a member of the American Ophthalmological Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and served as President of the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology and President of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists. He was a member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the American Medical Association, Minnesota and Zumbro Valley Medical Association, the Society of Sigma XI, the Mayo Alumni Association, and the Doctors Mayo Society. He retired from active practice at Mayo Clinic in December 1998 after 42 years as a staff Physician in Ophthalmology.Dr. Dyer was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Rochester, MN where he served on the Session and as the Clerk of Session for many years and was a member of the Chancel Choir. He was known for his love of golf and expertise in gardening and landscaping.Dr. Dyer is survived by his wife, Rena Yount Dyer; a son, David Dyer and wife, Nina, of Vila Velha, Brazil; a daughter, Carolyn Kath and husband, Dr. Philip Kath, of Morganton; grandchildren, Katie Kath of Morganton, and John David and Lydia Dyer both of Vila Velha; and a sister, Susan Oliver, of Allentown, PA.A private family service will be held at Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum with Rev. David Doster officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, 100 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55904. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.