Charles T. Stephenson M.D.

Charles Thomas Stephenson, M.D., passed away on Saturday, the 27th of August 2016 at the age of 89. A loving husband, father and grandfather was born in Houston on the 4th of January 1927 to Roy Earvy Stephenson and Eleanor Pearl Byers.

He attended Milby High School and graduated in 1943. Charles served his country and enlisted in the Army in April of 1945 and earned the rank of Staff Sergeant on the 1629th Engineer Construction Battalion in Yokohama, Japan. He finished his service on December of 1946 and attended The A&M College of Texas until 1949 earning a Bachelor of Science. After graduating from The A&M College of Texas he was accepted into Baylor University College of Medicine and attended from 1949-1953. It was there that he met the love of his life Betty P. Stephenson, M.D. and married the 1st of September 1951.

His post-graduate training included a rotating internship at St. Louis City Hospital, and Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Baylor University, Orthopaedic Research also at Baylor and Children’s Orthopaedic Residency at Shriner’s Hospital in Los Angeles.

Charles was appointed to many positions during his lifetime including Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, Senior Attending Orthopaedic Staff at Memorial Southwest Hospital, Senior Attending Orthopaedic Staff at The Methodist Hospital, Attending Orthopaedic Staff at Ben Taub General Hospital, Active Orthopaedic Staff at Texas Children’s Hospital, Courtesy Staff at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Director of Children’s Orthopaedic Clinics at The Methodist Hospital, Chief of Staff at Memorial Southwest Hospital, Secretary Medical Staff at The Methodist Hospital, Chairman of Credentials Committee at The Methodist Hospital. He was also appointed to several committees at Baylor College of Medicine which include Residency Acceptance Committee and Chairman of Dove Foundation Committee at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate Medical Education Committee, Admissions Committee and Awards Committee 1993.

His professional experience included him being a Cerebral Palsy Consultant at Shriner’s Hospital in Houston, Chief of Orthopaedic Service at Texas Children’s Hospital, Chief of Orthopaedic Clinics at Texas Children’s Hospital, Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, Section Chief of the Internal Medicine Department of the Foot Practitioners Group at The Methodist Hospital and President- Elect of Harris County Medical Society.

His professional memberships included American Academy of Cerebral Palsy, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons-Board of Counselors 1991-1994, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery- Diplomate 1961, American Medical Association, Clinical Orthopaedic Society, Harris County Medical Society (Board of Trustees for the Blood Center 1993, Delegate to Texas Medical Association, Executive Board 1989-1992, President of Houston Academy of Medicine 1992, Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library 1992, and President Elect,) Houston Orthopaedic Society-Past President, Texas Medical Association-Chairman of Special Advisory Committee on Physician Utilization to Texas Industrial Accident Board 1990 and Council on Legislation, Texas Orthopaedic Association (Board of Directors 1985-1992, Legislative Committee 1986-1989, Representative to Texas Medical Association-Interspecialties Society 1985-1989, Second President-Elect 1988, President-Elect 1989-1990, President 1990-1991, Western Orthopaedic Association-Chairman of Planning and Development Committee 1987-1988.)

Charles was a dedicated member of Sugar Land First United Methodist Church. He had many hobbies but he enjoyed flying his plane, spending time with his loving family at their vacation home on the Guadalupe River, and swimming in his pool.

Charles is preceded in death by his loving wife, Betty P. Stephenson, M.D.; sister, Mary Elizabeth Johnson; brother, Earvy Stephenson; and brother, James Stephenson. He is survived by his children, Patricia Stephenson McGrew; Karen Stephenson Baker and husband Raymond Baker; Rev. C Thomas Stephenson Jr. and wife Wendy Stephenson; John Wesley Stephenson and wife Randa Stephenson; and grandchildren; Sarah McGrew-Gunsch and husband Dustin Gunsch, Kyle Thomas Stephenson, Audrey Marie Stephenson, and Jack Davis Stephenson.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of Reminiscence at Sunrise of Cinco Ranch Senior Living for their compassion and care extended to Dr. Stephenson.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 1st of September, in the drawing room of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 2nd of September, at Bear Creek United Methodist Church, 16000 Rippling Water Drive in Houston, where Dr. Johathan Bynum, Lead Pastor, is to officiate.

The family will gather for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Charles’s memory may be directed to Texas Children’s Hospital Office of Development, Suite 5214, P.O. Box 300630, Houston, TX 77230-0630; or Shriners Hospital for Children, Attn: Tiffany Thomas, 6977 Main St., Houston, TX 77030.