DR. GEORGE P. “BUNNY” NAUM JR., MD

He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. George P. Naum Sr., MD, a physician, his mother, Mary Dolores Naum, a nurse, his sister, Sheila Naum Kerrane, his brother, Dennis M Naum(Marilyn) and his wife of 59 years, Joan Sauer Naum.

He is survived by his five children, Dr. George P. “Jeep” Naum, III, DO (Vanessa), Dr. Scott M. Naum, DO (Jennifer), Christopher Q. Naum (Nicole), Sheila Naum Bernhard and Jennifer Naum Jewell (Rob); twelve grandchildren, Chelsey Naum Purpura (Joe), Chantal J. Naum (Brian), George Philip Naum IV, Nicholas M. Naum, Matthew J. Naum, Dr. Ryan L. Naum, DO (Megan), Alexander Q. Naum, Connor J. Naum, Rebecca M. Bernhard, Megan J. Bernhard, Robert L. Jewell, and Jenna T. Jewell; four great grandchildren, Cooper T. Naum, Wesley C. Naum, Nemari S. Jackson and Makai J. Jackson as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and former patients.

Bunny was born in Charleston, West Virginia on April 12, 1933, and because the date was around Easter that year, his mother decided to nickname him Bunny, for which he would come to be known for the rest of his life to family, and friends as well as patients.

Because of his father’s illness, Bunny moved with his family to Wheeling, West Virginia in the early 1940s where he would take up residence for the rest of his life.

He attended St. Michael’s Grade School which is where he began to develop what would be a lifelong passion for sports. He played basketball and football at St. Michael’s.

Bunny then attended Wheeling Central Catholic High School where he excelled in football, track and baseball, but became known Valley wide as an exceptional basketball player, most notably being a member of the 1951 Wheeling Central Maroon Knights basketball team, considered by many as one of the greatest basketball teams in Valley history. In 2017, Bunny was elected to the Wheeling Central Catholic Sports Hall of Fame for football, track, baseball and basketball. For nearly 50 years, he could be seen roaming the sidelines of nearly every sport that Wheeling Central had to offer as their physician.

He then received a basketball scholarship to Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he would play for two years before being drafted into the Army, spending one year at Fort Knox, Kentucky and one year in Munich, Germany.

After he was discharged from the Army, he was known to have had several jobs including a brakeman with B&O Railroad, a general laborer for Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel in Follansbee, West Virginia, and a pharmaceutical sales rep, among others. However, his true love and goal in life was to become a physician like his father before him.

Bunny would graduate Marshall University in 1958 and achieve acceptance to WVU School of Medicine where he would receive his Doctor of Medicine in 1963.

He would then return to Wheeling where he would do a rotating internship at old North Wheeling Hospital finishing in 1964.

Dr. Naum would then begin what most would consider a truly outstanding and extraordinary career in medicine in the tri-state area. He became a trained radiologist in 1970 after finishing his residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Although he was a trained radiologist, his true calling was as a family doctor for which he was deeply respected by the medical establishment at East Ohio Regional Hospital, Bellaire City Hospital, Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling Hospital and as a physician at the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia.

He saw patients in offices throughout Wheeling, Warwood, West Liberty, Bellaire and Shadyside, as well as in patient homes when required and indeed his own home.

He was in practice for nearly 50 years and by all accounts was loved by his patients and staff to this day.

Dr. Naum, as was said, loved to participate in sports especially in golf and bowling and played full court basketball until his early 60s. He belonged to Belmont Hills Country Club as well as Wheeling Country Club. He was often seen participating in local golf scrambles as well as several golf trips throughout his life. By all accounts, he was a very competitive golfer. He was a voracious reader and card player as well and could be found in later years playing euchre and bridge throughout the Wheeling area but most especially at the Knights of Columbus on Edgington Ln. Dr. Naum was never found without a book mostly in his back pocket. He very much enjoyed being with family as well.

At the sunset of his life, Dr. Naum received absolutely phenomenal care, respect and understanding at the Elmhurst personal care facility, Good Shepherd Nursing Home and Valley Hospice. The family would like to gratefully acknowledge these facilities for their extraordinary care of Dr. Naum.

Visitation for Dr. Naum will be held on Friday, January 23rd between 4 and 7 PM at Altmeyer Funeral Home on 14th and Eoff Streets in Wheeling. There will be a Rosary to follow from 7 to 7:30 PM and a Vigil at 7:30 PM conducted by Father Joseph Wiley. All are encouraged to attend and exchange the many stories and fond memories about Dr. Bunny Naum.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, January 24th at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on National Road to be officiated by Father Joseph Wiley.

An interment service at the Bishop’s Chapel will be held at Mount Calvary Cemetery immediately after Mass. Soon after, the family will have a reception and fellowship for Dr Naum at the Angelus Center next to St. Michael’s Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations to the general fund of Wheeling Central Catholic High School, 75 14th St., Wheeling, WV 26003 or online at www.tmcfunding.com.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.altmeyerfuneralhomes.com.