Dr. Lauren Booth Klapthor

November 1, 2021

Dr. Lauren Booth Klapthor

Charlotte, North Carolina – Life could barely contain all of Lauren Klapthor’s passions.

He was an anesthesiologist who embraced the privilege of caring for his patients. He was a devoted husband, father and loyal friend. Near the end, he lay awake at night thinking about what to plant at his daughter Emily’s new home. He loved American antiques, fine wine (it didn’t have to be fancy) and dancing with his wife, Merrill, the shag or waltz, both were grand. He was at home in the outdoors and thought about running the family farm before practicing medicine. Put a shotgun or fishing rod in his hands and he was content in a field or at water’s edge.

Did we mention he was a gourmet cook? The last dish he prepared for his wife, Merrill, was marinated smoked duck sandwiches with cashew butter and pepper jelly. It took him two days to master the recipe. That was fine with him. It gave him more time to savor the best of what this world could offer.

Dr. Lauren Booth Klapthor died on Nov. 1, 2021, after an extended illness. He was 67.

Lauren grew up in Sumter, S.C., son of U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Casey and Bettie Ann Klapthor. He graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. degree in Microbiology and earned a medical degree from Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Lauren understood what mattered most. For 34 years, he and Clemson frat brothers from Alpha Tau Omega took an annual trip. Significant others were welcome. One guy planned it. The destination, here or abroad, was a secret to everyone else until it was time to go. They called themselves the Ad Infinitum Travel Club. This was at the heart of Lauren’s legacy. He wanted to be remembered for sharing love and friendship.

Lauren followed his father into the U.S. Air Force, where early in his medical career he served in Washington, D.C. Cool stuff just seemed to happen. He lived on a houseboat on the Potomac, where John Glenn was a neighbor. His job was to be the physician on Congressional trips, which is how he met Fidel Castro and Colin Powell.

In 1989, he settled in Charlotte, joining Providence Anesthesiology Associates, where he remained his entire career.

Everything about Lauren lived up to his wife’s description of him as artful. They met in 2010 at an East Boulevard art gallery. Merrill was working there. He was browsing. They discovered a mutual love of a Parker Brothers double-barrel shotgun on display. He thought the Lord was talking to him, about Merrill not the shotgun. They were married on Sept. 24, 2011, his birthday.

Lauren is survived by his wife, Merrill; his daughter, Emily Lauren Klapthor, of Candler, N.C.; three siblings – sister Barbara Hornsby and her husband, Larry, of Evans, Ga., brother Neil Klapthor and his wife, Pat, of Evans, Ga., and twin sister Elizabeth Ann Beaty of Sumter, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews whom he adored.

A service to celebrate his life will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, at Belk Chapel at Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Ave. Please wear a mask. Visitation follows at the chapel.

A gift in his memory can be made to First Tee of Upstate, 3515 Pelham Road, Suite 201, Greenville, S.C. 29615, www.firstteeupstate.org or S.C. Botanical Garden, 150 Discovery Lane, Clemson, S.C. 29634. Please note that gifts are given in Lauren’s memory. 

The family is deeply grateful for the love and care shown by Dr. Justin Favaro, nurse practitioner Hadley Munn Spencer and the rest of the team at Oncology Specialists of Charlotte, P.A.

Lauren never missed one of Emily’s games when she was growing up. As time passed, they rode horses and pursued photography together. Next Spring, beautiful things will grow in her yard per his recommendation. He helped launch the Charlotte Wine & Food Festival. He was an active supporter of the Southern Foodways Alliance, a national association that brought people together from all over around their shared love of good food and good friends. Such was his determination, he practiced medicine up until three weeks before he died.

For all that he wrung from his time on this good earth, Lauren was happiest in their kitchen, standing with Merrill by the island, a stack of cookbooks nearby, together plotting their next dinner party. It was set for Nov. 14. Lauren’s business partners and significant others were coming. The candles in the dining room chandelier would be lit. Lauren was planning to prepare beef bourguignon. Friends around a common table, sharing a meal and conversation. Artful indeed.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, N.C. 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

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Comments

  • Winston Godwin

    Lauren was a sincerely great guy. Being from small towns in South Carolina, we enjoyed talking about down home things either between OR cases or during them - he taking great care of the patient while I operated. Now retired, I was shocked to hear of his passing. He was the epitome of a fine Southern gentleman - mild mannered, intelligent, diligent and caring. He will be missed by myself and so very many more.

  • Kim Hart

    Merrill , I worked with Dr Klapthor in the Endoscopy department for several years . While we had absolutely nothing in common and couldn’t be more different we quickly became friends . I always looked forward to talking and joking with him and listening to him tell me stories of the places we went and the things he was doing . He would always try to encourage and inspire me to be a better person , share with me the books he was reading and encourage me to take my probiotics ( he was very very concerned about my “ gut health “ . He use to bring me vitamins and my probiotics if I wouldn’t purchase them on my own , he was amazing . He would bring us food when requested and even made me special dishes without onions because he wanted me to be able to eat his food . We had so much fun talking about starting our non- greeting card business and would send each other pictures of topics we thought would capture moments best and what we could say .
    I really enjoyed hearing all the stories today from his friends and getting to laugh at the memories . He is such a unique person that I am thankful I got to meet and spend time with . I am sorry that I wasn’t able to meet you today to tell you thank you for sharing him with us because he was very special and deeply loved . He will be missed and I will never forget him .

  • Jim Raby

    Emily,
    My daughter, Elizabeth, and I spent a night or two at the mountain house many years ago with Lauren and you. Lauren was most gracious, as was his nature. I had the pleasure to see him for the fist time time in many years in the spring of this year for a chat outside of Laurel Market. He was most proud to update me on his dear daughter. The obituary reminded me of the kind and caring soul I knew. Our prayer are with you during this time.
    Kind regards,
    Jim Raby

  • Dr Karlon and Karen Young

    We have very fond memories of working with Lauren. He was very kind and caring.

  • Craig Evans

    Lauren was a fine man and excellent physician. I worked side by side with him for years in the OR at Presbyterian. Always through and pleasant with our patients. will miss him even though he was a Clemson
    tiger!!!

  • Richard and Penny Morales

    A gentle man in manner and soul, Lauren was always able and willing to "see" others. His kindness and thoughtfulness included sharing his ancestral South Carolina farm with new friends and partners alike. Lauren honored us as he accorded my wife, my children and myself the wonderful and magical status of "family." He called my special wife "darling" for nearly thirty years on greeting her, and I loved him for that endearing and heartfelt gesture. Lauren made people know that they were respected and mattered greatly to him. It doesn't get more real and sincere than that. Lauren was kind to patients as I witnessed personally during his care of my son during his surgery for appendicitis. In his final years, he always stood strong, wise and caring for his many ill patients. This was reported to me sincerely on many occasions by those who worked most closely with Lauren: the nursing staff and doctors who relied on him; and whom he in turn truly respected and relied on as well. May Lauren rest in peace forevermore.
    Rick, Penny and the entire Morales Family
    Princeton, New Jersey.