Pendergrass
Dr. Robert “Bob” Pendergrass, 93, was born Sept. 15, 1924 in Kingsville. He died Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 6:03 p.m. in Austin with his wife, Mary, by his side. Services were held Tuesday, June 26 at Beck Funeral Home with burial following at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin.
On Monday, December 8, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army. He reenlisted in the U.S. Air Force to aid the Korean War effort. While in the USAF, he served as chief of surgery for the 3555th Medical Group at Perrin AFB in Sherman and then commander of the 3645th Medical Group and Hospital at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio.
He graduated from Texas A&M College, Ohio State University, University of Michigan Medical School and Surgical Residency Baylor Hospital.
From 1953 to 1980, Pendergrass, known as Dr. Bob, was in private practice as a general family physician and surgeon in Pittsburg, Camp County, where frequent house calls were the norm. During this time, he served as the medical director for the Medical and Surgical Hospital of Camp County. He also found time to serve as clinical assistant professor comprehensive care for Louisiana State Uniersity Medical School and summer preceptor faculty for Vanderbilt University Medical School. He found it a great joy to serve the sick and poor in rural East Texas where he also worked tirelessly to eradicate racial bigotry. In 1964, he ran and won a seat on the Pittsburg School Board to ensure the full integration of the Pittsburg public school system.
While in Pittsburg, he was a member of Rotary International and raised registered Polled Herefords. He was honored as Camp County Man of the Year. He then joined National Heritage Insurance Company and EDS (Electronic Data Systems) in Austin where he served as vice president and medical director of NHIC, medical advisor for EDS Health Plan, and medical advisor for EDS Federal, Kentucky Medicaid Program. While managing the Medicaid program for the State of Texas, Governor Clements appointed him to lead the interim study on organ transplants.
After retiring at the age of 72, he taught himself Spanish and became fluent in the language. He also took up oil painting and produced dozens of paintings; several of which he painted for his many grandchildren.
Bob and Mary Pendergrass were members of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin.
At the age of 90 he wrote, “My primary daily goal is to take care of my wife, deserving of my best as we continue our march, hand-in-hand, until our clarion call arrives to rejoin our souls through Christ into our Creator’s eternity.” He found life thrilling and rewarding with more blessings than he ever anticipated. He summed up his prayer of thanks with “To God Be the Glory.”
Cards of joyful remembrance may be sent to Mary Pendergrass in care of Beck Funeral Home, 15709 Ranch Road 620 North, Austin, Texas 78717.