Fred W. Pauling, MD

The world is a less caring place today since the sudden passing of Dr. Pauling on March 19, 2012. Known for his dedication to healing and the relief of pain, he was a gentle person with a ready wit and always a joke to tell. He was unpretentious and known in the community as just Fred.

Fred, a native Texan, attended high school in Marlin, TX, where he enjoyed playing varsity football and, because of his size, was also assigned to carry the tuba in the marching band which he played with much gusto. Fred was also an Eagle Boy Scout. He graduated from Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX in 1958. He also served his internship at Baylor Hospital, and surgical residency at the Veterans Hospital, both in Dallas before entering private practice. In 1967 he was inducted into the U.S. Army and began his 22 year career as an army surgeon which included a tour in Viet Nam in 1968/1969 where he last served as Chief of Surgery for the 3rd Surgical Hospital (a MASH unit at a forward fire-base). He was grateful for the opportunity to save the lives and relieve the suffering of so many of America's fine young men. Later, he participated in the recovery teams for the last three astronaut water recoveries. He retired in 1988 as a Colonel and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Chief of Surgery at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. Fred was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Viet Nam Service Medal and the Order of Military Medical Merit for his service to his country.

Fred met the love of his life, Wanda Mills, while she was teaching school in Dallas and he was a young medical student. They were married in 1956 and shared a love of art and music. Their favorite time of the day was in the evening when Fred would come home after a difficult day in surgery. They would share a glass of wine and Fred could decompress by recounting the day for her before he would retire to his art room to paint. He always had a painting in process. In addition, Fred also enjoyed music, sports and hunting.

Generous with his time he was always available to a friend or neighbor that might have concerns about a medical issue, Fred and Wanda were also generous with their contributions to the community and favored the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Art where Wanda also serves as a Docent.

Fred was predeceased by his parents Fred W. Pauling, Jr. and Johnnie Marstrand. In addition to Wanda, he is survived by their two children: daughter Elizabeth Stevens, her husband Eric and their two children Catherine and Lindsey; and, their son Fred W. Pauling, IV. Other family members surviving Dr. Fred are his sister, Emily Bradford, and her husband Norman of Arlington, TX, and their daughter Jonni Davis and her husband George Davis and son Patrick.