George V. Dr. Burkholder

George Veeder Burkholder, M.D. passed peacefully on Sunday April 15, 2012. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 31, 1934 to Margaret Veeder Burkholder and Theodore McCoy Burkholder, M.D. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Margaret Ann Wetzel. He is survived by his adoring and devoted wife of forty nine years, Gretchen Schneider Burkholder, his daughter Heidi and her husband, Todd Michael Binet, his son, Matthew McCoy Burkholder and his wife Courtney, and his six precious grandchildren who knew him affectionately as "Papa": Hailee Elizabeth, Michael Luke and George Burkholder Binet; Taylor McCoy, Benjamin James and Abigail Grace Burkholder. George graduated from The Harvard School for Boys, Princeton University and Cornell Medical College. He served as a surgical intern and resident at Cornell University in New York City. While serving his surgical residency, George met the love of his life, Gretchen "Sweet Pea" Schneider, a nurse at Cornell. Thus began an epic love story. After their marriage on April 20, 1963, George and Gretchen moved to Los Angeles where George completed his urology residency at UCLA. He later studied Pediatric Urology at The Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, England. He then served as Assistant Chief of Urology at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas and attained the rank of Major in the United States Army. After his time at Brooke, he and Gretchen moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he was on the teaching staff at the Cleveland Clinic. George and Gretchen then returned to San Antonio where he established his private practice in urology and settled in to raise a family. Dr. Burkholder was a founding partner of the Urology Clinic of San Antonio, the largest urology practice in South Texas. During his 35 years in practice, Dr. Burkholder served as Chief of Staff at Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital and sat on several hospital and foundation boards. He was a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Urological Association, Texas Medical Association, Bexar County Medical Society, Southern Society of Urological Surgeons, a founding member of the Trans-American Urologic Researchers, and was board certified in urology. He was also a member of the Conopus Club, the San Antonio Country Club, the Argyle Club and the First Presbyterian Church where he served in the Ushers Guild.

George and Gretchen loved to travel the world. George was an avid golfer and tennis player. At the age of 60, he won the National Men's Doubles Tournament. George was an exceptionally devoted grandfather and loved to spend time with his family in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, creating many priceless family memories. He was an accomplished artist and left behind a legacy of beautiful bronze sculptures and paintings.

Dr. George Burkholder earned the respect and love of his patients, colleagues, friends and family throughout his life. He will fondly be remembered for his kind, compassionate nature, his vibrant personality which lit up every room, his ever present smile, his love of life, his inquisitive mind, but most importantly for his incessant and unyielding dedication to his fellow man.

Those of us who had the unique pleasure of knowing Dr. Burkholder, "Dr. B", George, Daddy, Dad, Papa Bow-Tie Guy and Sweetheart will miss him more deeply than words can express, but we take great solace in knowing that the Lord has called home one of his great servants: "well done my good and faithful servant, well done." Matthew 25:23

MEMORIAL SERVICE

SATURDAY

APRIL 21, 2012

1:00 P.M.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

404 NORTH ALAMO

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts can be sent to The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Foundation 6211 IH 10 West, San Antonio, TX 78201 or to the San Antonio Humane Society, 4804 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 78229.