George Marshall Whitacre

George Marshall Whitacre Marshall passed away peacefully and went to Heaven to be with our Lord on Friday, December 24, 2004, at his home in Tacoma after a lengthy illness. Marshall was a wonderful Husband, Father, Doctor, Friend and devoted family man. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Preceded in death by his devot- ed wife of 55 years, Hazel, in 2001; his son, John J. Whitacre, in 2002; and two grandsons, Timothy Whitacre and Tyler Ohmart. He is survived by three children, Kay Woodward (Rod), Jim Whitacre ( Kathryn), Vanessa Whitacre; and daughter-in-law Genevieve Whitacre. Marshall was a special grandfather to Tod (Stephanie) Woodward, Carilena (Bryan) Ewart, Karyn and Elizabeth Whitacre, and Christopher and Stephanie Whitacre; and great grandchildren Brendan and Dylan Woodard, and Marshall and Jacob Ewart. Marshall was born November 18, 1918 in Tacoma, Washington at Tacoma General Hospital to Dr. Horace J. and Elizabeth M. Whitacre. He attended Stadium High School where he was a member of the Tennis and Golf teams. His stepmother, Alma, taught Math, Latin and German at Stadium from 1904-1919. He graduated June 1936 with Honors. Marshall enrolled at Northwestern University in the fall of 1936. He received the prestigious Patten Scholarship to Northwestern Medical School. While attending Medical School, he was a member of the Phi Rho Sigma Fraternity and was elected to both the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Fraternity and the Pi Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He graduated fourth in the class of 1943 from medical school. His residency was performed at Cook County Hospital and interned at Veteran Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois. During World War II he served proudly as a Captain in the Army as part of Company "C" Medical Battalion, Southern Philippines. He served from January 5, 1944 until his Honorable Discharge, August 6, 1946. He received the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with two Bronze stars, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan) and the Combat Medical Badge ASR. He began his Medical career at the Harrison Medical Hospital, Bremerton, Washington, in 1950. During 1952 he returned to Tacoma to open his medical Practice at K Street Medical Center, following in the footsteps of his beloved father, who was a prominent Tacoma doctor. He served on the Medical staff at both Tacoma General and St. Joseph Hospital. He retired from the medical profession in 1979. During his medical profession he served as President of the Saint Joseph and Tacoma General Hospital Medical staffs, Pierce County Medical Society, Pierce County Medical Bureau, and as a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners. In the early sixties he appeared as a frequent panelist on the television program "Ask Your Doctor." He also served on the Board of Directors for Tacoma General Hospital. Marshall had a passion for sports and competition, ranging from golf to cribbage. He was a fierce competitor who did not take losing lightly. He acquired his interest in golf as a junior member at Fircrest Golf Club. He was a member of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club for more than 50 years and served as President in 1969. He had the opportunity to play all over the world, but enjoyed his buddies at TC&GC the most. Another major joy in Marshall's and Hazel's life started when son John played for the UW Huskies. They became Tyee members for 30 years. They were die hard Dawg Fans. They traveled with the team and loved tailgating. Dad said his greatest victories were catching Mom, beating John Harbottle in the Club Championship, winning the City Ping-Pong Championship in High School, and his Scholarship to Northwestern Medical School. A Memorial Service to cele-brate Marshall's life will be held at the Chambers Creek Chapel of the New Tacoma Cemetery, located at 9221 Chambers Creek Road West, at 1 p.m. Thursday, December 30th. Reception will follow in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, please make your contributions to the American Heart Association.