Winnifred Allen Addison

W. Allen Addison, M.D., age 87, died on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Duke Hospital with family in attendance. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sally Bender Addison, whom he met while she was a student nurse at Duke and was a medical student. They were blessed with three beloved daughters and their spouses and eight beloved grandchildren and their spouses and one great-granddaughter.
Dr. Addison was born in rural Northeast Georgia on May 24, 1934. He had the privilege of obtaining his education at Duke University starting in 1952, including undergraduate school, medical school, and post graduate medical studies. After experiences elsewhere, he served for 30 years on the Duke University Medical School faculty and became the first Walter L. Thomas professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Former trainees, patients and colleagues have established the W. Allen Addison Professorship in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke. Dr. Addison considered himself to be the “luckiest man alive.” And by most accounts, he was “not always right, but seldom wrong.”
Services for Allen Addison will be held at a later date and time.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the W. Allen Addison, MD, Professorship Endowment Fund at Duke University.
The Addison family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Durham, NC.