Obituary of John Wilson Alexander

Dr. John Wilson Alexander passed away peacefully at his home, with his wife by his side, on Saturday, September 1, 2018, at the age of 96.He was born in Great Falls, Montana and grew up loving science, fishing, and trains. “Papa”, as he was called by his family, attended the University of Montana, graduating Magma Cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He was a bomber pilot in World War II and flew the last mission over Berlin. He went to medical school at the University of Washington where he graduated first in his class in 1950 and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his internship at USPHS Hospital in 1951. In 1957, he completed his residency at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division.Papa went on to have a distinguished career as a Board Certified Anatomic & Clinical Pathologist who practiced at Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth.The Family would like to thank the staff of the Fort Worth Zoo who helped us find the hippos on a hot day in August. The man at the Seventh Street Movie Tavern who gave up his seat so that one of us could sit next to our Father in his wheelchair. The owner of Carshon’s Delicatessen who comped his corned beef sandwich so he could truly say there is such a thing as a free lunch. The cardiologist who visited Papa in the hospital and helped heal our broken hearts. The Harris Methodist Hospital nurse who expedited the paperwork so we take him home. The transport driver who drove carefully over the bumps. Stan, his fellow World War II veteran, who was with him through his last battle. The residents of the Stayton who steadfastly board the buses to say good bye to their fellow travelers. And finally, to our beloved caregivers, especially Jackie and Michael, from Heaven Sent Health Care, who made it possible to do it “his way.”Dr. Alexander is survived by his dearly loved wife of 26 years, Martha Alexander and by his daughters from his first marriage and their families- Chris Peirson and husband Bill Peirson and their children, William Peirson and John Peirson; Cyd Shaw and husband Bill Shaw and their children, William Shaw and wife Cindy, Sterling Shaw, Dakota Shaw and wife Victoria, and Missy Shaw; Brooke Gritch and husband Todd Gritch and their children, John Gritch and Jayme Gritch; and Blake Alexander and husband Kevin Gies, and their children, Daniel Weinstein and wife Melissa and Hannah Weinstein.He is also survived by Martha’s children from her first marriage – Dawn Hudson and her son Sam Harrison, Kyle Hudson and wife Pam Hudson and their children, Lila Hudson and Ben Hudson, Tracy Collins and husband Frank Collins and their children, Robert Collins, Sophie Collins, Henry Collins, Isabella Collins, Kevin Hudson and wife Rosa Hudson and their children, Lucas Hudson and Sara Hudson, and by innumerable other family members, friends and colleagues whose lives he touched.