Pediatrician

SHREVEPORT – Services for long-time pediatrician Dr. A.L. Wedgeworth, Jr. will be Friday. He died July 31 at age 86.

He practiced pediatrics for 50 years and was noted for house calls regardless the time of day or night they were needed. He was former chief of staff at Schumpert Hospital and a member of the group of physicians who helped found what is now LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport.

Survivors include his wife Doris, a son and a daughter.

Arrangements are by Osborn.

Kidney specialist

MONROE – Services for kidney specialist Dr. William Rutherford will be Thursday. He died July 28 at age 73.

His early career was in pioneering research on chronic kidney disease. He and Dr. Joan Blondin opened the first Northeast Louisiana Dialysis Center in 1982, eventually operating six clinics. He was instrumental in establishing a rural health clinic in Start. He had been professor of clinical family medicine at LSU Conway since 2006.

Survivors include his wife Ileta and two sons.

Arrangements are by Kilpatrick.