William Whitehouse

William Riggs Whitehouse, M.D., 91, died at home on Saturday December 2, 2006. Dr. Whitehouse was born and reared at 401 W. Chambers, Cleburne, Texas. The only child of Gladys Edna Riggs and John Thomas Whitehouse, he was the great-grandson of Johnson County pioneers Sarilda Ellen Roberson and Thomas Hercaneous (Cane) Griffin. He graduated from Cleburne High School in 1933, from T.C.U. in 1937, and from Tulane School of Medicine in 1942. He lettered in tennis at T.C.U.
Bill Whitehouse was completing his internship and residency at Touro Infirmary, New Orleans when his training was interrupted by the war in 1943. Following a medical discharge and the completion of his residency, he formed a partnership with Dr. R. W. Kimbro that same year in a small space at 6 ½ Caddo St. Almost immediately Dr. Kimbro was called into service and Dr. Whitehouse found himself operating a clinic alone with the help of Miss Maude Belk. Busy delivering babies and performing surgery, he worked to reopen the old Harris (or Cleburne Hospital) west of Sunset Dr. and along with Dr. Kimbro spearheaded fundraising and planning for an eventual "County Memorial Hospital." Ironically, the Johnson County Memorial Hospital is being razed at this time.
At war's end the two young doctors finally established their long anticipated clinic at Chambers and Buffalo. At its largest, after moving to N. Ridgeway Dr. in 1977, Kimbro Clinic housed 28 doctors, most of them practicing specialty medicine. Dr. Whitehouse developed the criteria and curriculum for the first training of "Licensed Vocational Nurses" in Johnson County. The training was begun at the hospital in 1951 and early on he often taught classes himself. The first class was graduated in 1952 and today the training is one of Hill College's Programs.
Among the many honors earned by Dr. Whitehouse were: Fellow of both the American and International Colleges of Surgeons; Diplomate of the International Board of Surgery; Fellow of the American College of Emergency Room Physicians; Diplomate of the American Board of Abdominal Surgery; and the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce.
He was a long time member of the Southwestern Surgical Association, American Society of Abdominal Surgery, American Industrial Medical Association as well as the local, state and national medical associations. He also served as consultant to the Texas State Board of Health Resources and the Texas Medical Association's Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and was a twenty five year consultant to the local Selective Service Commission. In 1969 he served on the Committee of 100 at T.C.U. and was a director of Cleburne National Bank in the 1980s.
Dr. Whitehouse was particularly dedicated to the Cleburne Rotary Club as evidenced by his 34 years of activity there. Having been named an honorary member and president of the group he went on to receive the District Award of Rotary International and was inducted into the Rotary Hall of Fame, "for distinguished service to Rotary and the instituting of "Youth to Youth, Inc.," This peer program attracted state and national attention as it addressed the influencing of young school children toward socially responsible decisions.
All who knew him knew also that the passion of his life was his family and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A life-long and fourth generation member of the church, he served variously as Branch President and Bishop of the Cleburne Ward and on the High Council of the Fort Worth Stake.
In 1949, Dr. Whitehouse married Loretta Lawrence Durington of Dallas and they were still devoted to each other at the time of her death, 54 years later, in 2004. He was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and a good shepherd to all – well known for his gracious manners, caring personality, and tenacious concern. To relax he found writing, drawing, wood carving and genealogy to be particularly rewarding. The good doctor also found excellence on the golf course.
In addition to his wife and parents, Bill Whitehouse was preceded in death by his grandparents, Willie Anna Griffin and John William Osborn Riggs; Lillie May Wylie and John Thomas Whitehouse; and in 1997, his eldest grandson, William Bradley Jones.
Survivors include three devoted daughters: Annelle and husband Dr. Ben Hill Jones; Vicki and husband Peter Svendsen, all of Cleburne; Cheri and husband Paul Garrett of Orem, Utah. Grandchildren are Leigh Jones Havenar and Christian Svendsen, both of Flower Mound, Texas; Katy Svendsen Butler of Las Colinas, Texas; Jeremy Garrett of Queen Creek, Arizona, Lori Garrett Allen of Mesa, Arizona; and Kristi Garrett Smith of Orem, Utah. He also leaves behind twelve great-grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers are Dick Dickerson, Ben Hill Turner, John MacLean, Dick Turner, Steven Gray, William Robert Anderson, and Kenneth Kretzschmar.
Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Victor Abello, Dr. Brent Wallace, Bob Mayfield and the High Priests Quorum of the Cleburne Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The family will receive visitors at Crosier Pearson Cleburne Funeral home Sunday between 2-4 PM
Funeral services will be held on Monday December 4, 2006 at 1 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 303 S. Nolan River Road. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Cleburne. Friends are encouraged to make donations to OperationBlessing,Goodfellows or Christmas in Action in lieu of flowers.

Visitation

Crosier-Pearson Cleuburne Funeral Home
512 North Ridgeway Dr.
Cleburne, TX 76033
Sunday, December 03, 2006
2-4 p.m.
Map to Visitation Location

Service

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Monday, December 04, 2006
1:00 p.m.

Interment

Rose Hill Cemetery