Robert Wilson Crosthwait, Jr.

Robert Wilson Crosthwait, Jr., died June 21, 2005, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. At the time of his death, Dr. Crosthwait was surrounded by his family and cared for by skillful doctors and nurses at Providence Hospital, where he worked for 40 years. A third generation surgeon who loved his work, Dr. Crosthwait's death ended a 100-year dynasty of Waco physicians. Dr. Crosthwait was the son of the former Edna Maude Aynesworth and Dr. Robert Wilson Crosthwait. He was the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hazen Aynesworth and Dr. and Mrs. William Layfayette Crosthwait. He graduated from Waco High School in 1952, Baylor University in 1955, and Baylor Medical School in 1959. In 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol Randolph Turner. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary next summer. The two families were close before the marriage -- Dr. Crosthwait's father attended at the birth of the future Mrs. Crosthwait. After graduating in the top ten percent of his medical school class, Dr. Crosthwait trained in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery with Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Michael DeBakey at the Texas Medical Center. After a fellowship at Guys' Hospital in London, in 1965, Dr. Crosthwait returned to Waco to practice with his father and Dr. George Berry. From the outset, he worked on acquiring additional hospital equipment, training staff, and improving local medical procedures. He started the first intensive care unit in Waco and helped organize the first family practice center. He and his father raised funds to open the first cardiac cathertization laboratory. On March 6, 1973, Dr. Crosthwait and his partner Dr. Robert Angel performed the first heart surgery in Waco. The cardiac surgery program that Dr. Crosthwait founded has been continuously serving the community since then. He also served as chief of staff of Providence Hospital and President of the McLennan County Medical Society. He has operated on thousands of Wacoans over the years. Dr. Crosthwait was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Board of Surgery and the Texas Surgical Society. For six years, he was a captain in the Army National Guard. In 1979, Dr. Crosthwait was named Waco Independent School District's Distinguished Graduate. In 2002, Dr. Crosthwait received the Wilson Crosthwait Award for Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to the Advancement of Cardiac Care. In 2004, Dr. Crosthwait received the McLennan County Medical Society's Golden Cane Award. Dr. Crosthwait was a devoted member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where he served as Senior Warden and on the vestry several times. He was chairman of the first Faith Alive at St. Paul's and served on the outreach committee, working with a number of local charities over the years. In 2004, he was installed as a Vicar of the Diocese of Texas. Despite his demanding professional life, Dr. Crosthwait frequently came home between rounds to have dinner with his wife and children. He was an avid Baylor football and basketball fan, he enjoyed playing tennis and golf, and loved fly fishing and photography. He played golf at a fast pace, and recently won rounds in Palm Springs while on radiotherapy. His favorite place to be was on his deck overlooking Lake Waco, accompanied by his wife, children, grandchildren, and poodle, Gabriella. The past ten summers, Dr. Crosthwait organized Camp Crosthwait for his grandchildren, which featured golf, tennis, fishing, and other activities. He enjoyed this camp during the last week of his life. Dr. Crosthwait served as one of the football team physicians during the Grant Teaff days. In 1974, he was awarded the Southwest Conference Team Physician of the Year. Dr. Crosthwait is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carol, his daughters and sons-in-law Gay and Carl Grunfeld of San Francisco, Edna and Mark Cannata of Dallas, Nancy and David Allen of Nashville, eight grandchildren, Bobby, Evelyn, and William Danforth, Margaret, Catherine and John Mark Cannata, and Carol and David Allen, his sister and brother-in-law Nancylu and Bob Bennett, their sons and daughters-in-law, Robert S. Bennett, Jamey and Melisa Bennett, Clifton and Caroline Bennett, Kenneth and Debbie Bennett, their children, and many beloved cousins and godchildren. A funeral service will be held on June 24, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Church, 515 Columbus Avenue, Waco, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to St. Paul's Church or School, Mission Waco Compassion Ministry, or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey