Jimmie Underwood Obituary

Local fishing dentist kicked the bait bucket on August 13, 2016. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at Plymouth Congregational Church at 925 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS.

He was born on August 11, 1929 in Kansas City, MO and moved to Anthony, KS at the age of one week, the adopted son of Perry Earl and Kathleen Estelle Connell Underwood. He joined the First Congregational Church of Anthony in 1944 and graduated from Anthony High School in 1947.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas in 1951 with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, MO in 1955.

He was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and served as the Base Dental Surgeon for the 4th Allied Tactical Air Force Headquarters at Trier, Germany from 1955 until 1957.

He married Jeanne M. Stringfellow on July 21, 1955 at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY. They returned to Lawrence, KS and opened a private dental office at 211 W. 8th Street in November 1957 where he continued to practice until his retirement in November 1995.

He and Jeanne joined the Plymouth Congregational Church UCC in 1957 where he served as Moderator, Deacon, and Trustee. He is a past president of the Lawrence Breakfast Optimist Club. He was a Life Member of the American Dental Association, a past president of the First District of the ADA and a past president of the Douglas County Dental Society.

As an undergraduate student at the University of Kansas, in 1947, he joined The Delta Chi International Social Fraternity and later served as President of their Educational foundation from 1983 to 1992, was honored by being awarded the title of "BB" Emeritus in 1977 and by being given their highest international alumnus recognition, The Order of the White Carnation in 1985. He was recognized by KU Alumni/Alumnae Service Award in 1991. He is the Founding Alumnus of the University of South Florida Colony in 1996 and Chapter in 1998.

He was a Life Member (50 years) of the Masonic bodies, AF&AM #9, Lawrence, KS, AF&AM#200, Anthony, KS. He also served as High Priest of Lawrence Chapter #4, as Commander of Knights Templar, DeMolay Commendry #4, and as Sovereign of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine, St. Augustine Conclave, Topeka, KS. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Lawrence, KS the Aahems Shrine Temple at Oakland, CA and the Abdullah Shrine Temple at Kansas City, KS.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jeanne Underwood residing at Pioneer Ridge in Lawrence, KS; his sister Sue Enholm; his sons Jeffrey S. Underwood (Lori), James C. Underwood (Peggy), and John D. Underwood (Anne) all of Lawrence, KS, and daughter Jane C. O'Connor (Bill) of Houston, TX; nephews Scott C. Stringfellow (Kim) of Farmington, UT, Shad E. Stringfellow (Shelley) of Taylorsville, NC, and niece Stacey Basgall (Greg) of Stuttgart, Germany; along with nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.