Paul Leroy Dr. Gorsuch

Dr. Gorsuch was born on the family homestead on March 4, 1920, in Lusk, Wyoming, in the middle of a blizzard. He grew up in Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the Depression, part of a large family who were hard-working craftsmen, homebuilders and ranchers.

He worked his way through college as a dishwasher, tutor, bookbinder and bartender. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Delta theta, Tau Kappa Alpha, Omicron Delta kappa, Editor in Chief of Dickinson paper, German club, Debate squad and Who's Who in American Colleges 1939-1940. He graduated at the top of his class at Dickinson College, majoring in biology.

After acceptance into Jefferson Medical College WWII broke out and he signed up to be a navy pilot. When he told his mother, she told him he had worked hard to get into medical school, and flying was not an option. Graduating from Jefferson Medical College in 1944 he began his navy career. He arrived on a troop transport ship the night before the invasion of Iwo Jima. During the next 19 days he and his fellow shipmates operated on over 600 soldiers and lost only 6 men. He remembers watching the US Marines raise the flag on Mt. Suribachi. He was very proud to have been a combat surgeon and it made an indelible mark on him.

"Dr. Paul" spent the next years in residencies and fellowships in Washington D.C., Brooklyn, Arizona, and Univ. of Pennsylvania, before settling in San Antonio, meeting his wife Evelyn, and starting a family in 1948. He was a Fellow of the American Board of Surgeons, President of San Antonio Surgical Society and Medical Advisor to Southwestern Bell.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Vernon Gorsuch; his mother, Inez Berggren Gorsuch, his father Benjamin Franklin Gorsuch; his brother, Benjamin Franklin Gorsuch Jr, and his beloved wife, Evelyn Jedlicka Gorsuch. Survivors include his five siblings: Betty Lou Drewes of Oregon, Leslie L. Gorsuch of Wyoming, Gloria Burgess of Pennsylvania, Helen Marie Kidd of Indiana, and Kathryn Joan Allen of New Mexico; daughters Elizabeth Gorsuch of Missouri, Ellen Amundson of Colorado, and Dr. Paul L. Gorsuch, Jr. of Montana; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 17 nieces and nephews.

A beloved husband and father, an accomplished surgeon, pilot, historian, traveler, he was a friend to his patients and many became his friends. Yet, the center of his life was his forgiveness of sins by Christ and his place in God's family; a decision he made after settling in San Antonio.

SERVICE

TUESDAY

OCTOBER 11, 2011

11:30 A.M.

CHRIST FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

5440 VANCE JACKSON

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Dr. Paul Gorsuch Memorial Fund, c/of Christ Fellowship Church, 5440 Vance Jackson, San Antonio, Texas 78230. Interment in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, with a reception to follow at Christ Fellowship Church.