Dr. Billy B. Kern

Billy was the embodiment of the self-made man. Born in Oklahoma, and later raised in Texas, he attended a one-room school house through eighth grade. As a teenager, he left home to work as a roustabout in the oil fields. In World War II, he served with the Merchant Marine. In the Korean Conflict, he served in the Army.

Once discharged, Billy resumed his education at Texas Western College. There he met the love of his life, Hilda Flores. They married in 1954. Billy entered medical school at Tulane University and earned an M.D. in 1958. He practiced family medicine in El Paso for 30 years, doing everything from delivering babies to geriatrics. After private practice, he taught at Texas Tech School of Medicine and consulted at the Veteran’s Administration.

Billy loved playing golf. He was a parishioner at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, serving alongside Hilda as a lay Eucharistic Minister. Bill was married to Hilda for 58 years and was her devoted caretaker before she lost her struggle with cancer in 2012.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Autie, and his brother, Beryl. He will be remembered by his children, Stephen (Antoinette), Katherine, William (Ann) and Magie, by his grandchildren Zachary, Seva (Becky), Rupa (Kathryn), Varuni, Cecilie, Will, Daniel, Sean and Margaux.

Billy touched the lives of many people with his generosity, and maintained his wry sense of humor to the end. Visitation is at the FDA Martin Central Funeral Home, 3839 Montana Avenue in El Paso on Thursday, February 4 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., with a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, on Friday, February 5 at 12:30 p.m. Burial at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

The family requests that donations in Dr. Kern’s honor be offered to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at the Cathedral.