Class of 1986
  • Dr. Bruce Mueller

8/30/61—8/19/11

Dr. Bruce Mueller
Dr. Bruce Mueller attended OSU as a member of the 4th class at the new College of Veterinary Medicine. Growing up in Oregon he raised beef cattle and always wanted to be a veterinarian, so the new school was a perfect fit.

At college, Bruce was a member and served as president of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. He also served as co-leader of Luther House. The veterinary school was still a cooperative endeavor between OSU and Washington State and Bruce was a resident advisor during his stay in Pullman, Wash. Bruce has two favorite memories of OSU, both of which involve his fraternity. The first was an out-of-league intra-mural football game against a much larger ATO football team that ended in a 6-8 loss, but a moral victory. The second was giving his fellow fraternity members a good laugh by going through sorority rush dressed as a girl. He not only succeeded in cheering up his buddies during a tough rush year, Bruce also earned a temporary letter on his permanent record for that good memory.

Bruce graduated from OSU in 1986, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Post graduation he joined the Peace Corps in Tanzania where he worked with small holder dairy farmers. In 1989 he returned to the states to marry Kathryn. Three weeks after the wedding they embarked for Tanzania and an outbreak of foot and mouth. Not advice he would give to newlyweds, but fortunately he married the right woman. Following the development of a small dairy cooperative and a community learning center, the young couple left Tanzania in 1991 to work with the Pulaar herding people in Senegal on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. During their ten-year stay in West Africa, Bruce provided direct veterinary care and basic animal health training to the herders and their families. A herder's cooperative was formed, dry season milk production and processing developed and native language animal health booklets produced. Kathryn, during this time, developed a thriving cultural center that served the needs of the youth and women of the district capital. With school-age children and living in a remote area, Bruce and Kathryn decided to return to the states in 2001. Today, they have four children: Patrick, 14; Tabitha, 13; Silas, 11; and Seth, 5.

Back in the States, Bruce opened a private large animal veterinary practice. In 2003, he became a State Field Veterinarian for the Oregon Department of Agriculture, where he still works. Bruce's service to livestock producers in the state of Oregon include development and administration of avian influenza and Johne's disease control programs. He is currently working on an upgraded statewide livestock disease surveillance system.

In January 2009, Bruce was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. Through the help and love of his family, friends and community he was happy to be living, loving and contributing to the world around him.

In 2009, Bruce was named a OSU Alumni Fellow.

A memorial service was held August 20, 2011, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheridan, Ore.

Read Dr. Mueller's obituary in the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

Bruce is greatly missed.


 

Class of 1988
    Lori Walker
  • Dr. Lori Lyn Walker
    4/14/60—8/8/09
    Dr. Walker participated in sports in high school in Washington State and at the University of Oregon where she majored in biology. In 1981, she transferred to Oregon State University where she completed her BS in animal science. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. After graduating, she worked as a teaching assistant at OSU College of Veterinary Medicine assisting Dr. Linda Blythe. Dr. Walker joined private practice in 1997.
    Her interests included international veterinary medicine. She made many trips to Africa and Asia with Christian Veterinary Mission. She was a member of Suburban Christian Church in Corvallis; then First Baptist Church after moving to Lebanon. She was also a Major in the Air Force as a member of the 446th Aerospace Medical Squadron based at McChord Air Force Base in Washington State. She enjoyed photography and all outdoor activities.
    She is survived by her mother, Pauline Dresser; her brothers, Jim and Rod; her husband, Matt Walker; son, Andrew; daughter, Jessica Lybarger; her son-in-law, Jon Lybarger; and grandsons, David, Caleb and Walker.