George Alexander "Alec" McBath

Dr. George Alexander "Alec" McBath, 75, died peacefully at home on December 10, 2007, after a long battle with Parkinson?s disease. He was born on September 14, 1932, in Oklahoma City, to George A. and Marjorie Sichler McBath. His mother passed away shortly after his birth and he was raised by his father and stepmother, Faye Odell McBath in Mission, Texas, and worked on the family citrus farm. He attended Schreiner College on a tennis scholarship, transferred to The University of Texas at Austin, earned a B.S. at Texas AandI University in Kingsville, and a D.D.S. from the University of Texas Dental School in Houston in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps from 1957 to 1959, achieving the rank of Captain. A colleague at dental school set him up on a blind date with Martha Trainor in 1953, and they were married a year later. He is survived by his loving wife, Martha; a sister, Jane Bennack of Alpine, Texas; a brother, Thomas W. McBath and his wife Virginia of Houston, Texas; four children: Michael A. McBath and wife, Melody, of Houston, Texas, Dr. J. Mark McBath of Houston, Texas, Catherine and Robert Case of Austin, Texas, and Tom R. and Grete McBath of Corpus Christi, Texas; and eight grandchildren: Brittany, Alex, Rachel, Ava, Annika, Adam, Liv and Madeline.He touched many lives in Corpus Christi and South Texas, through his dental practice of 30 years and coaching his children and many others in little league baseball for 17 years. His patients recognized him as a skilled dentist, and a man of decency, character and compassion. For many years after illness forced him to quit dentistry, patients would approach his children and say, ?Your Dad was my dentist," and remember him well. Alec loved children, and enjoyed playing with his kids and grandkids whenever he could. He would often tell them stories from his younger days, when he hitch-hiked across the country, boxed in Golden Gloves, and piloted small planes. He spent many weekends on his property in Duval County, where he raised cattle for a time. He enjoyed tennis and bridge with his wife and friends, and was known for a quick wit and sense of humor. His competitive streak helped him to fight his disease for more years than anyone thought possible. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Maria Brown and Lucy Valdez, health care providers, and Kathy Johnson of Legacy Home Health Agency, who helped care for Alec in his final years, and to Margo Conley of Vista Hospice Care who was so helpful in his final days. Maria?s help and care for both Alex and Martha were very important to the family. Visitation will be held from noon to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, December 13, 2007 at Maxwell P. Dunne Funeral Chapel, with a rosary to be recited that evening at 7:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 3350 S. Alameda St. A funeral mass will be celebrated at the church the following morning, Friday, December 14, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., with Monsignor Richard Shirley presiding. Burial will take place at Seaside Memorial Park. Honorary pallbearers are Richard Hatch, Dr. James McCutchon, Dr. Bill Malone, Fred Saunders, Dr. Oscar Garcia, Joe Schoen, and Dr. Bobby Bluntzer. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Parkinson?s Support Group of Corpus Christi, 4321 Hamlin, Corpus Christi, Texas 78411.