Herbert Neal Harkleroad, M.D., 87, died at 7:10 A.M. at his residence. A native to Estill and Franklin counties, he graduated with B.S. at age 20 from the University of Kentucky, Phi Beta Kappa. He received his doctorate degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1955. He served an 18 month general internship at Cooke County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois before entering the US Army as Captain. His service included tours of duty in Korea and at Valley Forge Army Hospital. After discharge he received Internal Medicine training for three years at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. He returned to Cooke County Hospital for a residency in Gastroenterology and Gastroenterologic Radiology.

Dr. Harkleroad began solo practice of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology in 1963, later founding Internal Medicine Associates with three other Internist Partners. With the addition of Family Practice and Nurse Practitioners the name was changed to PrimeCare Medicine Associates. He retired from private practice in 2000. He continued medical service at the Free Clinic and doing medical mission work in Appalachia, the Far East, Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. He enjoyed travel and has visited 54 countries and has been on every continent except Antarctica.

He was a member of the Kentucky Medical Association and was a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He was past president of the Warren County Mental Health Association and the past president of the Senior Physicians Society. He was a member and elder at Westminster Bible Church and was recently active at the State Street United Methodist Church.

He was the son of the late English Pryse Harkleroad and the late Cammie Emerson, and was the step son of the late Sarah Harkleroad Holster. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Catherine.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Harkleroad; his son, Robert Neal Harkleroad; his daughter, Dr. Mary Eleanor Harkleroad; two sisters, Dawn Morgan and Carol Elliot; and three nieces, Sharon Wimberly, Melisa Knotts and Molly Rhodes.

Memorial service will be at State Street United Methodist Church on Sunday, September 9, at 3:00 P.M. Visitation will be on Saturday, September 8, from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the church. The arrangements have been entrusted to Johnson Vaughn Phelps Funeral Home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to State Street United Methodist Church, Hosparus and the Herbert and Martha Harkleroad Endowed Scholarship at Asbury University.