Malcolm Clayton Lancaster, MD; Colonel USAF, Retired.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2022

AT 1:00PM

WAYSIDE CHAPEL

1705 N. W. LOOP 410

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78213

Retired Colonel Malcolm Clayton Lancaster, MD ran into the arms of his beloved Savior Jesus Christ in the early hours of Monday, January 17th attended by his devoted and loving wife Patricia after a prolonged illness. He was 90 years old, but if you had asked, he would have told you he felt pretty good for someone who was 120!

He is survived by his faithful wife Patricia Ann Pramik Lancaster, and his children and their spouses-Pamela Lancaster Elzinga (Doug), Kim Russell (Keith), Lisa Lucas (Don) and Tim Lancaster (Leslie). Additionally, he left behind 8 grandchildren: Emma and Elena Lancaster Elzinga, Kris and Kelli Russell, Sember and Rayen Lucas, and Jack and Savannah Lancaster, and one great grandchild Sage Russell. He was preceded in death by his father Jesse Pat Lancaster, and mother Azalee Lora Markham Lancaster, his brother Samuel B. Lancaster, and daughter Kathy Lancaster.

Mal (or Manny as his first family called him) was born in Amarillo, TX on July 28, 1931. He received his AA degree from Amarillo College and went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin followed by an MD degree from UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in 1956.

That same year he began a distinguished career in the US Air Force and served his country in various posts until his retirement in 1978. His career spanned the following destinations and accomplishments: Internal Medicine Training at Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, CO; Chief of Medical Service 48th Tactical Hospital, RAF Lakenheath, UK; Cardiology Fellowship Fitzsimons General Hospital; Chief Cardiopulmonary Service and Chairman of Department of Medicine USAF Hospital, Wright Patterson AFB, OH. The majority of his Air Force career was spent in San Antonio, TX at Brooks AFB (1966-1978) in the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine where he served in escalating leadership capacities in the Clinical Sciences Division. During his military career he received 11 awards and medals, and other nominations, served on advisory boards to NASA, journals, and the USAF Surgeon General, published 74 papers and gave 73 invitational lectures.

After his retirement from the Air Force, Mal joined the faculty of the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, serving as professor of geriatric medicine where he developed curriculum, taught and supervised residents and students, and directed three geriatric clinics in addition to advising at Morningside Ministries. One of the students' favorite instructors, he won 9 teaching awards, and his legacy lives on in the medical community through the skill of the many medical professionals he helped train.

Vital to his excellence in his above mentioned career and throughout the rest of his life was Mal's unwavering awe and worship of Jesus Christ his Lord, and he followed in the Apostle Paul's footsteps: "...admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:28). So outside of his professional career, he continued to serve, lead and teach. When Grace Bible Preparatory School transitioned to the San Antonio Christian Schools in 1973, Mal had already been serving on the Board of Trustees since 1969, and continued to guide SACS through 1991. He delighted in serving as the leader of the Medical Missions Team at Wayside Chapel Evangelical Free Church through which he took teams to Ukraine, Romania, China and consulted in Venezuela. God's sovereignty as Creator of the universe was a favorite topic of study, and he lectured on this subject at multiple venues. He served as consultant at Texas Bible Institute, and at Grace Counseling Center. He and Pat, along with Lin and Jane Jolly and George and Betty Davis opened and operated the Christian Bookmark bookstore from 1972 - 1988 (with all the kids enlisted for annual inventory - counting the pencils!).

Again in Col. 1:29, Paul said "To this end (presenting everyone fully mature in Christ) I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me". Nowhere did Mal imitate Paul's example more faithfully than in his association with the beloved Genesis Sunday School class at Wayside Chapel which he taught for 42 years, rarely missing a Sunday and never repeating a lesson. The class had to start with a funny story, a comic or a goofy video, and then he would jump right into Scripture. He could spend weeks mining the truth of just one verse of Scripture, and regularly shared new ways of viewing the mysteries of the faith. The members of that faithful spiritual family remain precious to him and Pat, and indeed have remained the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to our family in his long illness and his transformation to his heavenly home.

Mal was truly a renaissance man. He could always find something to enrich his days - playing fiddle at dances when he was young, then guitar from his teen years until work and arthritis crowded that out. He was a painter and enjoyed teaching painting at the Helotes Art Guild from 1968-1980. After he and Pat purchased the family home on Hibiscus, his time was filled with yard work, plumbing, electrical repairs and the like. He spent hours in his workshop building the kitchen cabinets, furniture for his children and repairing things. Maintaining the lawns brought him joy - driving his Gravely tractor, endlessly fixing sprinklers, and nurturing lovely flower gardens. And at the end of a long workday there was a trip to the fish pond where he would call the fish for dinner, and they would respond by swimming to him for their nightly meal.

Amidst this abundance, people were always the most important priority. All work stopped when a friend/relative/stranger stopped by. He would push back his cowboy hat, drink a glass of tea and tell you one of his many stories. His counsel guided many a life, and he never failed to walk you outside as you left, standing in the driveway until you pulled away. You mattered to Mal.

Mal married Patricia Ann Pramik on December 5, 1959, a union of just over 62 years that all started with one of Pat's delicious cookies. All because two people fell in love, we are blessed today with a large, loving and loud family who enjoy laughing, eating, playing games and being together. He loved this ever enlarging family, though sometimes the noise provoked retreats to the workshop. He will always be remembered for the goofy way he mixed up words (Sears and Roebuck became "Beers and Go-cart". The standard Christmas greeting was "Merry Crispness!" And the carol Deck the Halls will always include "Boston Charley" and "Nora freezing on the trolley"). He loved complaining about always losing at card games - even though he didn't. He loved the holiday feasts that Patricia prepared (single-handedly early in their life together and then assisted by other family members as the years went on). And he now stands with the saints that have gone before awaiting the Great Wedding Feast when we will all have a seat at the table and will "know as we are known." Then there will be no more tears. He so much wants you personally to know the unspeakable glory he knows now, and he longs to see you there. He would tell you - Jesus is the Way.

Retired Colonel Malcolm C. Lancaster, MD will be buried with military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery on February 21, 2022 at 9:30 AM , after which there will be a Celebration of Life at Wayside Chapel Evangelical Free Church at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, Mal would be honored for you to donate in his name to Missions at Wayside Chapel (https://waysidechapel.org/missions). Your expression of love for Mal, your testimonials of your time with him, your funny stories may be shared on the guestbook at https://www.porterloring.com.