Dr. Herbert A. Justus, DVM, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, passed away leaving behind a legacy defined by tireless dedication to veterinary medicine, selfless public service, and deep devotion to his family and community.
Above all, Dr. Justus was a devoted family man. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Jane Ann Erwin Justus, and their seven children: Dr. Steve Justus (Phyllis) of Davidson, NC; David Justus of Wilmington, NC; Barry Justus (Frances) of Salisbury, NC; Craig Justus (Suzannah) of Asheville, NC; Joan Shay of Wilmington, NC; Sherry Withers (Marshall) of Savannah, GA; and Vicki Chohany (Mickey) of Williamsburg, VA. He was a proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren and great-grandfather to 8 great-grandchildren.
Born and raised in North Carolina to the late George Hamilton Justus and the late Alice Mae Kilpatrick Justus, Dr. Justus graduated from Flat Rock High School before attending Clemson University from 1948 to 1952, when it was a military school. He continued his education at Oklahoma State University (then Oklahoma A&M), where he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree with honors in 1956. He was a proud member of Phi Kappa Phi, an academic honor society whose membership includes only the top 3% of veterinarians.
After graduation, Dr. Justus served five years in the U.S. Army, where he worked as a tank coordinator and food safety officer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1960, he entered private practice and went on to own and operate four veterinary hospitals across North Carolina until 2008. He was a trailblazer in veterinary care—credited as the first veterinarian in western North Carolina to perform neuro/lumbar surgery, enabling paralyzed animals to walk again. His pioneering diagnostic work included identifying the region's first case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in a dog, and publishing on canine seizure disorders in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Justus was deeply involved in advancing veterinary medicine beyond his practice. He served two terms as president of the Western North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, led the North Carolina Academy of Small Animal Medicine (1975–1976), and became president of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association (1983–1984). From 1994 to 2002, he served on the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board, including three years as president. In 1988, he received the NCVMA’s Distinguished Veterinarian Award in recognition of his many contributions to the field.
At the age of 80, Dr. Justus returned to federal service, accepting a position with the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service as a Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian at the Tyson Foods plant in Vienna, Georgia. He served there until his final retirement in 2017.
Dr. Justus's dedication extended beyond medicine. He served two elected terms as a Henderson County Commissioner from 1977 to 1984, during which he was instrumental in establishing the county’s first Emergency Medical Service—an initiative that became a model for the entire state. He also served on the county’s Health and Sanitation Department board, helped found Tomorrow’s Hope Child Care Center 1999-2024, and was a proud 10-year member of Rotary International. He also found success in building, earning his contractor’s license in 1974 and specializing in log home construction. He was recently honored as a 2020 Distinguished Alumnus by the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine—a testament to a life rich in impact and integrity.
Dr. Justus mentored countless young veterinarians, including Dr. John Freeman, a past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. His influence lives on in their continued work and in the communities, he helped to shape.
A memorial service to honor the life of Dr. Herbert A. Justus, DVM will be held May 17, 2025, at 2:00pm, 1881 Hwy. 9, Boiling Springs, SC 29316. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Asheville VA Hospital's Valor Hospice Center, at 1100 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805. Or to Northbrook Baptist Church.
A life of humble service, bold innovation, and unwavering compassion—Dr. Herbert A. Justus will be dearly missed and remembered with great admiration.
