Alexander Francis Sanchez

SANCHEZ, Dr. Alex Francis, of Plant City died May 17, 2013, on his 92nd birthday, at Hawthorne Village in Brandon. Born May 17, 1921, in Brooksville, Ky., son of the late Dr. Butler Hall Sanchez and Jeanette Eugenia Sanchez, Dr. Sanchez attended Florida Southern College and Emory School of Medicine, graduating with honors in 1953. Upon graduation he completed an internship in the Navy. He practiced medicine in Plant City from 1954 to 1980. During his lifetime he served in three branches of the military; the Air Force, Navy and Army. After high school Dr. Sanchez enlisted in the Florida Air National Guard and would later become an instructor pilot in the Army Air Corps on the B-26 at Barksdale Field in Louisiana. He flew the B-25 and C-47 in China and Burma during the latter stages of WWII. At the conclusion of the war, he joined TWA as a commercial pilot but soon left for a career in medicine. During his career in general practice, Dr. Sanchez was instrumental in the development of the coronary care unit at South Florida Baptist Hospital. In 1980 he rejoined the Army and embarked on a career in occupational medicine. He served at Ft Carson, Col., and Ft Rucker, Ala., Army hospitals with the rank of Lt. Col. While stationed at Ft Rucker he became a flight surgeon and after training, soloed the TH-55 helicopter at the age of 62. Leaving the Army in 1985 he became the medical director for Florida Progress in Crystal River for 5 years. Not wanting to retire, Dr. Sanchez again gave much needed service to the Citrus County Public Health department before his full retirement in 1995. Dr. Sanchez was a long time member of St. Clement Catholic Church. He was a member for 18 years at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Homosassa and later returned to Plant City in 2004 just before the death of his wife, Ruth, in 2005. Dr. Sanchez regularly attended daily mass. His hobbies and pastimes varied widely: he built several sailboats, played tournament tennis and was a talented watercolorist. At the age of 14, he became a proud Eagle Boy Scout with Troop 5 in Plant City. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Ruth Rowland Sanchez, his brother Butler, his sister Eugenia Ganas, daughter Kathleen and grandson, Rion. He is survived by his sons, Alex (Linda) of Mooresville, NC, Robert (Lynn) of Easton, Md, Eugene (Donna) of Brandon, John of San Mateo, Ca., Paul of Memphis, Tenn; and daughter, Mary Wilson (Steve) of Easton, Md; 13 grandchildren, three great-grandsons, and a great-granddaughter. There will be a celebration of his life at St. Clement Church in Plant City at 11 a.m. on Sat., June 8. A reception will follow when the family receives friends from 12 to 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Alex's honor to the Boy Scouts Troop 5 or to the Poor Clair Nuns, Delray Beach, FL. All would be appreciated. Our family is grateful to Alice Moulton, companion and loving friend to Dad, and we want to extend special thanks to the following for their wonderful care of our beloved father and grandfather: Ms. Mary Newman and Ms. Linda Madill, Dr. Steve and Kathy Smith, Ms. Judy Edwards. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Wells Funeral Home, Plant City.