James R. Brettell

1952 - 2002

James Richard Brettell, a physician, died unexpectedly Sunday, Aug. 25, 2002. He was 49.

Memorial service: 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church, 1200 S. Collins, Arlington. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Moore Funeral Home, Bowen Chapel, 4216 S. Bowen Road, Arlington.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, a medical scholarship/grant fund has been established in Dr. Brettell’s memory at Compass Bank, 701 Highlander Blvd., Arlington, Texas 76015.

James Richard Brettell was a devoted husband, father and friend, as well as a dedicated physician in practice in Arlington since 1987. He was born Dec. 12, 1952, in San Antonio. The son of a U.S. Army officer, he grew up on the move, with stops in Germany, Taiwan, Washington, Kansas and Pennsylvania.

Dr. Brettell was a graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, Kan. He received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., where he graduated in the top 5 percent of his class.

After graduation, he was assigned as an engineer officer with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan. He was later selected for participation in the Army scholarship program and earned his medical degree at the University of Kansas Medical School.

He completed his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso. In 1983 he asked to return to Fort Riley for the valuable experience he knew he would gain in obstetrics among the young families based there.

Dr. Brettell resigned as a major in 1987 after more than 13 years in the Army. He joined the practice of Omega OB/Gyn Associates, with offices in Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield. He specialized in high-risk obstetrics, infertility and gynecological surgery. He was chief of staff of Medical Center of Arlington from 1995 to 1997 and had served on the hospital’s board of trustees for five years.

He was known not only for the level of care he delivered his patients, but also for the selfless way he served his community. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, first as cubmaster of Pack 276 from 1987 to 1996 and as an assistant scoutmaster and scoutmaster of Troop 421 since 1992. He traveled with the Scouts on high adventure trips to Philmont, N.M., the Boundary Waters in Minnesota and the Appalachian Trail.

Dr. Brettell was a volunteer in the Mansfield and Arlington school districts for many years, most notably as a guest lecturer with the health occupations program at the high school level. He was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church.

He and his family shared a passion for scuba diving and traveled extensively over the past several years, most recently to Costa Rica.

Survivors: His wife of 25 years, Susan L. Brettell; sons, James P. Brettell, Joseph A. Brettell and Benjamin G. Brettell, all of Arlington; father and stepmother, retired Lt. Col. James A. and Joan Brettell of Tyler; mother, Nancy C. Brettell of Lenexa, Kan.; sister, Sharon Knox of San Antonio; brothers, Steve Brettell and wife, Claire, of Shawnee Mission, Kan., and Pat Brettell and wife, Lori, of Overland Park, Kan.; mother-in-law, and father-in-law, retired Lt. Col. Young and Gwen Moore of Vermillion, S.D.; brother-in-law, retired Col. Gordon Moore and wife, Marie, of Syracuse, Ind.; and numerous aunts, cousins and friends.