Marcus Lamar Ross, M.D.

Graveside services for Marcus Lamar Ross, M.D., of Waco, Texas,are 1:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29, at Forrest Park Cemetery in theChapel of Faith in Webster, Texas. OakCrest Funeral Home in Waco isin charge of arrangements.

Dr. Ross died at Hillcrest Baptist Hospital in Waco on Sept. 24,2006. He was born in Brookhaven on June 29, 1914, to Vara ScottRoss and Marcus Lamar Ross Sr.

He attended elementary school in Brookhaven, and graduated asvaledictorian of his high school class in Santa Rosa, Texas.

He attended Edinburgh College for two years and received hisbachelor’s degree from The University of Texas in Austin. Hereceived his medical degree from The University of Texas MedicalBranch in Galveston. He completed his internship and two years ofresidency in Neuro Psychiatry at John Sealy Hospital, Galveston,before starting a general medicine practice in 1943. He volunteeredfor the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1941, and was a SecondLieutenant and received an honorable medical discharge in 1943. In1969, after 36 years of serving the community through privatepractice, Dr. Ross founded, organized and chaired the FamilyMedicine Department at The University of Texas Medical Branch,which was the first such department in a medical school in Texas.He served as chair and was tenured professor of family medicineuntil he retired in 1979. He was a charter member of the AmericanAcademy of Family Practice and was a diplomat of the American Boardof Family Practice.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, Galveston, from 1935until 1999. He was chairman of the Board of Deacons three times,was selected as a deacon emeritus in 1985, taught Sunday school,and served on numerous committees. He joined Calvary Baptist Churchin Waco in 1999.

Dr. Ross served the city of Galveston in numerous areas. He wasa city councilman in Galveston from 1963-1969 and was mayor from1971 -1973. During that time he was involved in securing theproperty and working with Texas A&M University to establish theTexas Maritime Academy at Galveston, helped to increase resourcesfor an adequate water supply for Galveston, and helped establishthe Oceanographic Scientific Institute. He was a Director of theGalveston County Water Authority and chaired the HistoricalFoundation during the development and implementation of therestoration of the historic Strand area. He chaired the medicaldivision of the United Fund, was on the Chamber of Commerce Boardof Directors and Executive Committee, and served as a director onthe Bank of Galveston from 1965-1993. In 1972, he was selected asone of the “Men of Achievement in Texas” by the Texas Press.

Preceding him were his parents; his wife of 57 years, MaryFrances Beddoe; his sister, Mary Bentz; and his nephew, A. WilliamBentz.

Survivors are his daughter, Jan Purdy and husband Tom; his son,Marc Ross and wife Laura; his niece, Helyn Bentz East, ofBrookhaven; his great-niece, Martha East Morgan and husband, Paul,of Brookhaven; his great-nephews, James Thomas East, of Houston,and Richard Howell East, of Nashville, Tenn.; his threegrandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Lamar Ross Centennial Fund to honoroutstanding family medicine residents, 301 University Blvd.,Galveston, Texas 77550, or to Calvary Baptist Church, general orbuilding fund, P.O. Box 3313, Waco, Texas 76707.

To post memorials online, visit the guestbook atwww.oakcrestwaco.com.