Asa Armstrong Newsom Jr.

Dr. Asa A. Newsom, Jr. was born in Dallas, Texas on September 25, 1923 and passed away on May 8, 2016. He was the son of Dr. Asa A. Newsom and Alberta Walker. His birth mother died of tuberculosis when he was only two years old, but his father was married again to Billie Greene, the only mother Asa ever knew. Asa graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and then attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. As a sophomore at Baylor, on Sunday, December 7, 1941, while returning to Baylor University after a weekend at home, he heard on the radio of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The next day, like so many other young men at that time, he volunteered for service in the United States Army (although he first had to receive permission from his father since he was underage). It was Asa's desire to become a doctor, like his father, so the U.S. Army transferred him after boot camp by troop train to California and Stanford University where he completed his college education (although Baylor University remained the school he loved!). Prior to his transfer to Stanford, while attending Baylor in his sophomore year, he met the love of his life, Dot Swift, on the very first day of her freshman year, who he subsequently married and with whom he has enjoyed 72 years of life and love! He attended and graduated from The Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. While still in medical school, the Japanese surrendered, and after completing his medical internship and residency in the specialties of obstetrics and gynecology, he began practicing medicine with his father where they both served on staff at Baylor Hospital. In 1952, at the start of the Korean War he was called up for service in the Army and was stationed in Ft. Hood, Killeen, Texas for two years. After the cessation of hostilities, he was honorably discharged as a Captain and returned to Dallas to the private practice of medicine with his father. Previously, in 1946 his first son, David Asa Newsom was born, and in 1950, he and his wife again became parents, this time of twin boys, Kirk and Kent. All three sons graduated from Hillcrest High School in Dallas, and from Baylor University in Waco, Texas where all three also graduated from Baylor's Law School. Asa added three daughters-in-law to his family when David married Jane Russell, Kirk married Lynn Cheek and Kent married Vicki Haynes. Together these marriages added five grandchildren to Asa and Dot's family including Laura and Colin, children of David and Jane, Chris and Julianna, children of Kirk and Lynn, and Douglas, the child of Kent and Vicki. Laura and her husband, Christopher Rooney, later added two great grandchildren, Desmond and Avery. Asa's other passion in addition to the practice of medicine and his love and life with Dot, was found in his service to God and his Lord Jesus Christ at and through Wilshire Baptist Church where he was a longtime member (since virtually its founding in 1951), deacon, Sunday School teacher and leader in many other ways. He is survived by his wife Dot, all three sons and their wives, all five grandchildren, both great grandchildren, and a host of other family and friends! Special thanks to the dedication, skill, love and kindness showed to our father particularly during these last days by Dad and Mom’s around the clock caregivers, Elaine Whitmire and Barbara Reed, as well as the kindness and loving assistance offered every week in the home of Asa and Dot by Alba Rodriguez. A celebration of Asa's life will be held as a Memorial Service at Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams Rd., Dallas, Texas 75214 at 10:30 A.M., on May 21, 2016. In lieu of flowers, direct donations may be made to Wilshire Baptist Church, Baylor Healthcare System Foundation or charity of your choice.