John Blake Withrow

John Blake Withrow, M.D. passed away peacefully in his sleep at North Kansas City Hospital on Saturday, January 13, 2007 at the age of 85 after a brave battle with renal failure. Dr. Withrow was born in Teague, Texas to Erna Stephens and John Blake Withrow. At the outbreak of W.W. II, Dr. Withrow enlisted in the Army Air Force. He was based in North Africa with the 12th Air Force and flew many missions as a bombardier on a B-25. He achieved the rank of First Lieutenant and was separated from the service at the end of the war. He was a graduate of Baylor University and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Tulane University In New Orleans. Dr. Withrow practiced the art of medicine in Kansas City North for 35 years, with 20 years as a Family Practice Physician and 15 years in Emergency Medicine. He was a founding physician of North Kansas City Hospital and later, along with two other physicians, created a professional corporation which provided physician staffing for the Emergency Center of the hospital. From 1965-1966 he served as President of the Medical Staff of North Kansas City Hospital. He was a past President of the Clay County Medical Society. In 2006, he was honored by the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians for his 50 years of membership and support. While Dr. Withrow was an excellent diagnostician, he never identified his patients by their illness but by their names, faces, and unique personalities. His 1958 Chevrolet was equipped with a spotlight to find the right residence on late night house calls. When he was needed, he was there. On July 17, 1949, he married the former Gladys Ellen "Pete" Petersen of Roeland Park, Kansas. In July, 1999 they celebrated 50 years of marriage. Dr. Withrow was well read and traveled which made him knowledgeable on a wide range of subjects. He was an avid fisherman, golfer and dedicated reader of the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Withrow leaves his wife of 57 years, Gladys "Pete" Withrow; son, John Blake Withrow, Jr., Dallas, Texas; daughter, Jane Patera and son-in-law, Michael Patera, Buffalo, Minnesota; brother, Richard "Dick" Withrow, Corpus Christi, Texas; and granddaughter, Catherine Brooke Ambler of Los Angeles, California, who was the light of his life. The family would like to thank Drs. Larry Benson and Michael Raybould and the Nursing Staff of 4 North, North Kansas City Hospital for their care and compassion. Services will be held at D.W. Newcomer's Sons, White Chapel, 6600 North Antioch Road, Gladstone, Missouri on Saturday, January 20th. There will be visitation from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. with services to follow. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Sisters, Servants of Mary or NorthCare Hospice. (Arr: D.W. Newcomer's Sons White Chapel).