G. Douglas Tatum

1931 - 2016

Doug Tatum, a pillar of the medical community in Fort Worth, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, after a long illness. Service: A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, followed by a reception at the church. Honorary pallbearers will be Doug's grandchildren. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the James L. West Center, 1111 Summit Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76102; TCU Medical School, Box 297080, Fort Worth, Texas 76129, Attention: Medical School; or Harris Methodist Fort Worth Women's Health Services, in care of Texas Health Resources Foundation, Box 200038, Arlington, Texas 76006. Doug was born May 8, 1931, to Gail D. Tatum and Doris Sweet Tatum in Fort Worth. He was a graduate of Paschal High School and TCU. After graduating from TCU, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Barbara Lyle. They moved to New Orleans where he earned his MD degree from Tulane University. His internship in Dallas was interrupted by service in the United States Air Force as a physician at the Walker Air Force Base Hospital in Roswell, N.M. After two years of military service, he returned to Dallas to finish his residency in obstetrics and gynecology before opening his practice in Fort Worth. He began his career delivering babies and when asked, at one point, how many children he had introduced into the world, he could not even guess. In addition to treating patients, he gave a great deal back to the profession. During his long career, he served as chief of staff and chief of the OB/GYN division at Harris Methodist Hospital. The hospital's Antenatal Diagnostic Center bears his name in honor of his countless contributions to patients and patient care at Harris. He was a member of numerous professional societies, including the Texas Surgical Society, the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Central Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He served as president of the Texas Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Southwestern Gynecologic Assembly and the Tarrant County Medical Society. In recognition of his contribution to the medical community in Fort Worth, he was awarded The Gold Headed Cane in 1993, the highest honor bestowed by the Society, reflecting outstanding and exemplary service to patients, physicians and the community. When he decided to slow down, he did it in name only. He served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and trained numerous OB/GYN residents. He worked very hard to establish a new medical school in Fort Worth, a wish that has just recently come true. He also served on the advisory board of the Add-Ran College at TCU and on the athletic committee and the board of trustees of Fort Worth Country Day School. He cared for his family like he cared for his patients. He worked hard to make sure that his four children had the best education available. He attended all three boys' football games every fall and he was very proud that his daughter followed his passion and achieved an MD in pathology. He loved music. He whistled along with Beethoven and Rogers & Hammerstein with equal gusto. He was a longtime supporter of the Fort Worth Symphony and a member of First United Methodist Church for over 60 years. He was also an avid golfer. He will be missed by many. The family extends its grateful thanks to the caregivers on the memory floor of the Stayton and the fourth floor of the James L. West Center. Survivors: Wife of 63 years, Barbara Lyle Tatum; his children, Stephen L. Tatum and his wife, Nenetta, Leslie Tatum and her husband, H. Anderson Dollahite, Scott D. Tatum and his wife, Suzanne, and Daniel L. Tatum and Martha C. Cox; grandchildren, Carter Tatum and husband, Van Wilson, Stephen Tatum Jr. and wife, Carly, Henry Dollahite, M.D., and wife, Carolyn, Peter Dollahite and wife, Brittney, Ben Dollahite and wife, Danielle, Paul Dollahite, Amy Tatum Klein and husband, James, Josh Tatum and wife, Julie, Laura Lindsay Tatum and Richard Tatum; and great-grandchildren, Cormac Dollahite, Serena Dollahite, Sam Tatum and Colin Tatum.