Obituary of Wendell B. Whitacre MD

WHITACRE, Wendell B., M.D. Dr. Wendell Whitacre died at home on October 20, 2017 after a sudden illness. Born October 6, 1927 to Asia and Lena Whitacre, Wendell graduated from Ohio University in 1951 and received his M.D. from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1955. He trained in general and plastic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and had a plastic surgery practice in Tucson from 1962 to 2006. Wendell's honors, awards, and professional positions included 2003 Pima County Medical Society Physician of the Year and academic medical positions at the University of Arizona. Wendell also served as a Civitan leader. Wendell was a devout practitioner of physical fitness, even at age 90. The disease and suffering he saw as a physician made him grateful for his own good fortune and health. He had tremendous grit and was renowned for his frank remarks. He is survived by his partner of over 30 years, Theresa Cisler, D.O.; his brother, Gary Whitacre, M.D. (Gayla); four children, Marc Whitacre, M.D. (Erica), Eric Whitacre, M.D. (Michele), Anne Prince (Chester), Alice Whitacre (Henri) and nine grandchildren, Matthew, Blake, Valerie, Thomas, Elizabeth, Crysta, Grant, Marc and Victor. Wendell was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Lois Owen, M.D., and his brother, Victor Whitacre, M.D. A Memorial Service will be held in Tucson on Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at the JCC. He requested that any gifts in his memory go to the Southern AZ Chapter of the American Red Cross or to Civitan International Research Center. His ashes will be placed in the Whitacre family cemetery near Chesterhill, Ohio. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.