11/10/32 – 9/12/19

Former North Bend dentist, Dr. Robert E. Drury, (Bob) was born in Carlinville, IL where he attended Blackburn College majoring in pre-med and math. He graduated from St. Louis University 1957 with a DDS degree. The United States Public Health Service offered him an internship at their Marine Hospital in Baltimore, MD. After presenting a research paper on Hypnosis in Dentistry, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offered him a position as research dentist. He worked five years at NIH in Bethesda,, MD but also in several South American countries. The Service then sent him to Geneva, Switzerland, representing the USA in dental matters at the World Health Organization (WHO). On assignment on Staten Island, NY he met his wife, Karin. They were married in Germany before heading to his next assignment in Seattle, WA.

The Drury’s liked the Pacific Northwest so much that they decided to open a dental office in North Bend, raising their 2 daughters in the Snoqualmie Valley. Bob loved the outdoors, fishing, hiking, hunting, camping and canoeing, always accompanied by his dogs or family. The Drury’s lived in the Valley from 1968 – 1998 when they retired to Florida. Bob’s favorite hobby was magic and he enchanted many of this young patients chair side with magic tricks. He always considered dentistry his hobby and enjoyed it very much. He was a life member of the American Dental Association and the local Seattle/King County chapter, as well as a DAV and VFW life member.

After retirement the Drurys traveled extensively overseas attending magic conventions and meeting other magicians. Bob was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) and a member of the Order of Merlin, an exclusive fraternity of the IBM. After presenting a magic act, his own invention, the prestigious Magic Circle of London initiated him into their society.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Elizabeth (Terlip), 4 siblings, Louise (Darscheid), Conrad, Elizabeth (Berwick) 2 brother-in-laws, Louis and E.J. and a niece and 2 nephews.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Karin, and daughters Anne (Rob) and Catherine. Memorial donations may be made in his honor to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250 or Tidewell Hospice Inc., 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238-9989