22 Februar y 2021
D
ave Barkman could always hold his own with the younger
guys. Even in his 70s, he'd kept his weight within a healthy
range and his wiry strength solid. It was a benefit that came
in handy while standing at the net on a tennis court or while
tending to the hurt paw of someone's furry best friend.
at's why the longtime Fayetteville veterinarian was in denial just
aer Christmas two years ago when he couldn't seem to shake a bout of
the flu.
"I remember him saying that even his hair hurt," said his son Japheth.
Both Japheth and brother Josh are veterinarians at Highland Animal
Hospital, the practice their father and Berry Bostic purchased in 1976 aer
founder Charles Speegle retired. Bostic has since retired, but Dave Barkman
still works part-time in the clinic off S. McPherson Church Road.
Family friend Brian Rose, a physician
assistant with Valley Cardiology &
Vascular Clinics advised Barkman to get
to the emergency room right away for a
chest X-Ray. Barkman wound up being
admitted to Cape Fear Valley Medical
Center in cardiac distress from the effects
of flu and subsequent pneumonia.
BY KIM HAST Y
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
TONY WOOTEN
FEATURE
Veterinarian Dave
Barkman was admitted
to Cape Fear Valley
Medical Center in
cardiac distress. Luckily
doctors were able to
perform a cardioversion
to stabilize his
heart rhythm.
Veterinarian
Barkman's
Own Happy
Ending
