Roy was the first child of Alexander and Hannah Falconer. He was born on November 6, 1892 at Modesto, California. At an early age he give his life to God and was interested in foreign mission service, and he always wanted to be a doctor.
His preparatory school was taken at Pacific Union College. This was the first year that the medical school required 3 years of college for entrance. Also his class had the distinction of being the smallest ever to go through The College of Medical Evangelists, at Loma Linda, California. There were just five young men to graduate in 1919. These were Drs. J. Earl Gardner, Heinz g. Jummel, Hudspeth e. Scoles, Herbert w. Amyes, and Roy Alexander Falconer. Dr. Gardner had the distinction of going to the “Far East and opening the Penang Adventist Hospital in Malaya. In the first - class letter I quote these words: “A few days ago I was surprised as well as pleased to receive the enclosed letter from Amyes. It was posted in Glasgow July 27 and reached me in Nanning September 13 by way of the Suez Canal. When it gets back to him it will have gone completely around the world. Not a bad trip at all, and one I should like to take myself. Perhaps when plans of each are executed, when we have done our best, we might be called a well – traveled bunch! “With 3 out of 5 going to the mission field is indeed a record. While Roy was taking medicine a girl by the name of Clara Schmidt was taking the nursing course at the Loma Linda Hospital. She was born in Rolla, Missouri on April 3, 1894. When Clara was 5 years old her father and mother both died and she and her brother Alva and sister Elsie were raised by the Copfer family. Later the Copfers adopted Clara and when she was 15 the family moved to Loma Linda. She graduated in 1917 and worked at the white Memorial Hospital for one year. Then it was wedding bells on August 8, 1918. Dr. Falconer interned at the St. Helena Sanitarium and Hospital. It was there that Roy and Clara received their call to go to China.
On April 27, 1920 they with 8 other missionaries, 10 in all, set sail on the S. S. Nanking for China. In the group were Paul and Dollie Williams, who would be going to Nanning to be his helpers. This gave them a good chance to get better acquainted.
In Shanghai they were met by Elder C. C. Crisler and Dr. Selmon with his Ford. The folks in Shanghai gave the group a big reception for the day before there were missionaries who had arrived on the S. S. Nile. Finally on May 31, 1920 the falconers reached Hong Kong, and were met by Brownie Owen, the Treasurer of the south China Union at that time.
It was quite a trip up the West River to Nanning. P. V. Thomas had come down to Hong Kong to accompany then. Dr. Falconer describes the trip: “It was beautiful sailing, the nights were moon – lighted, the air balmy and nice, and everybody was happy. Then at Wo Chow we had to change boats. In a private room on one side near the rear we stowed the ladies where they slept well on the board shelves as long as the cockroaches had only their antennae sticking through the cracks. In this room we all ate so as to make the show as near a side-show as possible. The center portion of the boat is one large room, so we leased a space just in front of the girls’ cabin. Here we piled all of our baggage, boxes, furniture and everything. On top of it all we put the American bed springs we bought in Honk Kong. My roll of rugs lay down the middle of the room. At least 18 heads could be counted on it. Fare is charged by the floor space.
There were two homes on the compound. The Thomases occupied one. The Williamses had the upstairs and the Falconers had the downstairs of the second house. The old clinic was down town.
The doctor’s first task was to draw plans for the new hospital to be built on the compound. “Dr. Magan is right. There is nothing like putting something on the map. Why any of our boys want to stick around the U. S. A. is more than I can see. There is ten times, and then some, of disease to see here than there. And it is all yours, all you have to do is go to it, “he wrote to his classmates.
In a letter written in July 17, 1920 Dr. Falconer wrote home to his parents: “Tomorrow the masons start on my hospital. The need for a physician is great and I believe I’m in the right place. These people don’t realize their need and the benefits of medical science. As yet only one other medical man has had the courage and faith, to come up here. (Dr. Law Keem) I’m glad the original building was not put up because it wasn’t planned by anyone who knows about hospital needs.
“The lot is nearly square 105’w X 95’1. It is separated from the compound by a well – traveled road. On the other side of the lot is a moat that runs around the city wall. It is about 400’ wide and the surface of the water is covered by beautiful water lilies. I plan to build a two – story building 36’1 and 32’w. On the first floor there will be a chapel, a waiting room, pharmacy, laboratory, hydrotherapy, office, examining room, and toilet. On the second floor there will be an operating room, sterilizing room, central supply, and two large wards. “
On July 24 he penned the following: “Foundation for hospital has been dug. Door and window casings are being made on the ground. Will start to lay brick tomorrow. “
On July 31 he says: “We plan to put up 20 beds. We need $ 1000.00 for water works including plumbing. There is a fine well on our compound that will supply hospital with water. A tank up 40’ will supply all three buildings.”
On August 6 “Starting on 2ndfloor of hospital now……Several surgical operations waiting to be done in operating room. Sure wish Dr. Cayne would come and help me. I long to pray for a small electric lighting plant, and an ice plant. I have a good right hand man now, born and educated in Singapore, speaks English, and makes a good translator.
On August 21, “Ready to start the roof of the hospital now. Improvised a bed and brick traction for a girl with broken femur. On August 26 they are ready to put tile on roof.”
On October 2. We quote from Clara’s letter, “Roy is wiring the dispensary of the new hospital. We are still waiting for the plumbing tools to get here. I am disturbed be a cobra in the back house. On October 16 Roy says: “Electric plant is a block away. It’s under new management and they are very cooperative now. House is nearly wired. We should have electricity next week. A piped water system is being put in. A septic tank sewer system is going in at the hospital and one at the house. Each of the houses will have a flush toilet on the porch. Our fireplace is completed and works fine. Kitchen is now completed with sink, drainboard, three drawers, and two cupboards.
Looks like a big change has taken place in four months time. With a complete new hospital ready for use.
On January 27, 1921, at 1:20a.m., Katherine Marie Falconer was born. There was a four – mile rickshaw ride while in labor. We arrived at the hospital at 9:00 p.m. the hospital was quite large, oldest in china, opened 58 years ago, good reputation, run by the Presbyterian Church. Church is located by the river 600 feet from the hospital building in Canton.
On the 6thday Clara had a severe headache and spiked a high fever. Baffled, the doctors could find no cause. It turned out to be an infective sinus thrombosis at the left side of the base of the brain attended with excruciating pain and violent fever. She underwent two operations, which gave relief to the pain but for forty days the fever resisted every human effort. On March 6, 1921 she went to her last sleep. She had requested to be buried by Miss Ida Thompson’s sister, Gertrude, in Happy Valley.Fortunately there was only one grave between them. Elder Thomas and Roy accompanied the casket to Hong Kong. Elder De Vinney conducted the funeral service. That evening Roy went back by train to Canton and left immediately for Nanning. He was anxious to finish the work he had started. Mrs. Dollie Williams cared for Baby Katherine and Roy stayed for another year and a half waiting for another doctor to take his place. This was the loyalty shown by a young pioneer doctor who gave God first place in his life.