Marilyn Olga Clare King-Rankine

1944 - 2014

Dr. Marilyn King-Rankine, M.D., respected cardiologist and electrophysiologist and Fort Worth's first black cardiologist, greeted the Lord Christ on Friday, April 11, 2014, after a courageous almost two-year battle with uterine cancer. Funeral: 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 5001 Crestline Road, the Rev. Christopher N. Jambor rector. Immediately afterwards, the family will receive guests at River Crest Country Club, 1501 Western Ave. Interment: Naples Memorial Gardens in Naples, Fla. Wake and visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Carter Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 4601 Wichita St. Dr. King-Rankine emigrated to the U.S. during the turbulent early 1960s from the former British Guiana, a small country in global South America. She subsequently received a B.A. in zoology from Howard University, an M.A. in microbiology from Howard University and her M.D. from Temple University. She was accepted into an internship program by the renowned Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, where she completed her internship, residency and cardiology and electrophysiology training. Marilyn distinguished herself historically in her budding medical career, becoming the first female ever accepted into the Cleveland Clinic's electrophysiology program. Dr. King-Rankine relocated to Texas in 1985 and opened her cardiology and electrophysiology practice, immediately achieving another historic milestone -- becoming Fort Worth's first black cardiologist. Her private practice also included the surgical implantation and explanation of defibrillators and pacemakers, as well as nuclear cardiology. Dr. King-Rankine continued to pioneer in her fields of mission. In 2011, just a year before her illness, she was the first Fort Worth cardiologist to explant pacemaker leads using a revolutionary laser technique. Dr. King-Rankine was a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Tarrant County Medical Society and the Heart Rhythm Society. She served as the local American Heart Association president from 1990-1991 and was the recipient of numerous community service awards and commendations during the course of her long and storied career. Dr. King-Rankine was best known for her abject humility; unwavering dedication to learning; seemingly tireless, countless hours spent examining patients, speaking to their families, and performing surgical procedures -- even through the wee hours of the morning; compassionate and informative bedside manner; genteel mannerisms; keen wit; extraordinarily reliable wisdom; profoundly generous spirit and energies -- she willingly, patiently and happily both formally and informally taught many medical students, nurses, techs and others; soothing demeanor; and, of course, her sweetly lingering, lilting, mellifluous accent -- all of which will be greatly missed by her beloved adopted city of Fort Worth and beyond. Survivors: Daughters, Ifeyinwa "Fey" Ugokwe, Esq., and Patrice Rankine; sisters, Dawne King, Ms. Hermine King and Ms. Sheila King; brother, Mr. Hilton King; and nieces and a nephew by her late brother, Dr. Loris King, M.D., Dr. Stella King, M.D., Crystal King, M.B.A., and Kwame King; and many other nieces, nephews and friends.