TRYON, NC - Mikell Baynard Karsten, MD of Tryon, NC died November 13, 2006. Dr. Karsten was born May 1, 1933 in New Rochelle, New York, a son of Paul Karsten Sr. of New Haven, Connecticut and Elizabeth Pichard Karsten, both deceased. He was the paternal grandson of Gustav Karsten, educator and editor, and Eleanor Daggett Karsten, writer and direct descendent of Dr. N. Daggett, Revolutionary War President of Yale University. He was the maternal grandson of the Rev. William Lowndes Pickard, Baptist Minister and former President of Mercer University, Macon, GA and Florence Willingham Pickard.Dr. Karsten graduated from Tifton, Georgia High School class of 1950. He graduated with honors from Abraham Baldwin College, Tifton, GA, Mercer University, Macon GA and The Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA. Following a year internship at Spartanburg General Hospital and a year surgery residency at Grady Memorial Hospital Atlanta he completed his 4 year surgery residency at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital, Augusta, GA.Dr. Karsten was a Lieutenant Commander Surgeon aboard the hospital ship USS Repose in the Vietnam War (1968-1970) and awarded the Bronze Star. He was stationed for a year at Charleston Navel Hospital, Charleston, SC. Following his military service, Dr. Karsten returned to Tifton for the practice of surgery and was instrumental in founding Tifton Surgical Clinic. During his twenty years of practice, he served as chief of staff and chief of Surgery at Tift General Hospital, now Tift Regional Medical Center, Tifton, GA. Dr. Karsten was a member of the Tift County Medical Society, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Medical Association of Georgia and the Moretz Surgical Society. He was also a member of Tryon United Methodist Church, Tryon Country Club, Tryon Swim Club, Appalachia Yacht Club and President of Theta Fraternity MCG.Two brothers P.D. Karsten, Jr. and William Lowndes Karsten preceded the deceased. Survivors are Catherine Anne Cumby Karsten, whom he married November 28, 1952, two sons, Mikell B. Karsten Jr. (Barbara Parker) Sylvester, GA and Frederick William Karsten (Kathy Winfree), Dunwoody, GA, two grandsons Mikell Brett Karsten and Clinton Miles Karsten, Sylvester, GA, a sister, Florence Willingham Carson and nieces and nephews.Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday,November 17, 2006 in Bowen-Donaldson Funeral Home, Love Ave., Tifton, GA 31794. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday in Bowen-Donaldson Funeral Home just prior to the service.
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