Thomas Upshaw Tuten, M.D.
Did you know Thomas? Please share your stories and photos, and help spread the word about this page!
Thomas Upshaw Tuten, M.D., 70, died Monday, November 29 at AnMed Health, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Atlanta, he was a son of the late Lt. Col. Wilson Parker "Red" Tuten and Elizabeth "Libby" Upshaw Tuten. He grew up throughout the United States and Europe, graduating high school in Yorktown, Virginia. He spent summers in Hampton, S.C. and in Cartersville, Georgia.
Dr. Tuten graduated from Emory University with a degree in chemistry; earned a master's in health physics at Emory and worked in the nuclear industry. While there, he met his wife of 46 years, Susan Meltzer Tuten. Together they forged a formidable team ready for any challenge.
After two years of marriage, he began his second career and graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1981. Dr. Tuten completed radiology residency and an interventional radiology fellowship at Emory, where his mentors included Andreas Roland Gruntag, who pioneered the angioplasty procedure for cardiovascular patients. He then joined the Emory faculty.
Dr. Tuten founded Diagnostic Radiology of Anderson, a practice he cultivated over 34 years. He has served as president of the Anderson County Medical Society, President of the South Carolina Radiological Society, and served on the Alumnae Board of the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Tuten performed his final interventional radiology procedures in the days before his death.
Tom cherished practicing radiology alongside his son, Dr. Alex Tuten. He frequently visited his daughters in Portland, Oregon where Jane practices internal medicine and Caroline "Buggy" owns and operates a vintage boutique.
Tom's spontaneity, and humor allowed him to establish long-lasting and meaningful friendships with those he encountered, impacting many lives through medicine and his personal life. He was known for his laughter, his love of world history, and his delight in sharing his knowledge of history. He lived a beautiful life filled with family, friends and travel. He was a collector of war memorabilia, cars, art, and BMW motorcycles. His collection of lawn care equipment was also extensive.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his children, Thomas Alexander "Alex" Tuten, M.D. (Keri) of Anderson; Jane Adelle Tuten Ware, M.D. (James) of Portland, Oregon; and Caroline Amelia "Buggy" Tuten of Portland, Oregon; five grandchildren who knew him as "Grumpa," Wilson Alexander Tuten, August Elle Tuten and Thomas Frazier Tuten of Anderson; and Noam Whalen Ware and Nora Lillian Ware of Portland, Oregon; a brother, Wilson Parker "Bill" Tuten of Aiken; sisters Lois Adele Tuten Stratos of Bradenton, Fla. and Anne Tuten Wilmeth of Anderson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, December 4 at First Baptist Church of Anderson. Interment will follow at a later date at Sandy Run Cemetery in Hampton County.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local NPR station, in memory of Dr. Thomas U. Tuten: https://www.npr.org/donations/support
Sullivan-King Mortuary