Obituary of Rex Hancock Whitworth

Rex Hancock Whitworth, M.D. passed away on September 3, 2008 in Roseville, California at the age of 88. Although recently of Lincoln, CA, he lived and practiced pediatric medicine for over 50 years in Monterey County. Rex was a brilliant, fun, vibrant and deeply humane person who will be missed terribly by his family and friends, but he also leaves an enormous "extended family" of former patients and colleagues who were fortunate enough to experience his outstanding skills and kindness as a pediatrician. Throughout his life and career, Rex was passionate about providing the very best medical care to all children, regardless of social or financial circumstances. Rex strongly believed that everyone had a basic human right to excellent healthcare and he never failed to give his medical expertise and human kindness freely to anyone in need, regardless of age, race, creed or economic status. The second of three children, Rex was born May 6, 1920 in Manchester, England to Ada and Harry Whitworth. He recalled his parents, childhood and homeland frequently and with great fondness. As a youth, Rex was an exceptional athlete and scholar, eventually winning a scholarship to Kings College, Cambridge to study medicine. At Cambridge, he achieved "triple blue" athletic status earning top rank in three sports: track, rugby and cricket. Following Cambridge, he did his Pediatric Residency at St. Thomas's hospital in London. At the beginning of World War II, Rex was awarded a Rockefeller scholarship to study at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he met and married his first wife, Ann Verdin Whitworth. He and Ann returned to England , where he worked in the medical unit of the Royal Air Force (RAF) until the end of the war. Ann remembers his fearlessness and dedication working in hospital wards caring for children with tuberculosis, polio and other highly contagious and dangerous diseases. Rex and his family returned to the United States a few years after the war, living in Iowa City and San Francisco until he was eventually offered a position in Salinas in 1951. He would make the Monterey and Salinas area his home for the next 50 years. Rex's long career included private practice, hospital residency and several government clinics. He was a familiar and adored physician at CHOMP and Salinas Valley Memorial over many years, and also Director of Natividad Medical Center He was especially proud of the Family Practice Residency Program he established at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, California. It was at Natividad that he met his beloved wife and constant companion of the last 30 years, Kay Savage Whitworth, a Physician Assistant. Together, they traveled and practiced in clinics in Gallup New Mexico, Saipan and the Monterey Health Department, until both retired in 1998. Rex leaves his dearly loved wife and best friend, Kay Whitworth, and his children, Valerie Whitworth (Michael Barbour) of Winters, California, Pamela Graff (Stan) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Victoria Whitworth of Davis, California and son Christopher Whitworth (Janet) of Fieldbrook, California, and his three grandchildren, Steven, Cecilia and William Whitworth. He also leaves a close and loving step-family: daughter Linda Burrola (Bill), granddaughters, Celeste Villalobos (Mario) and Maya Gee (Todd), and great-grandson Lucas Villalobos. Rex is survived by his sister, Joan Whitelaw, of Edinburgh, Scotland and brother, Brian Whitworth of Cheshire, England. Rex was preceded in death by his son, Rick Whitworth and step-sons Mark, Ronnie and Steven Quintero. A celebration of Rex's life will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the Unitarian Church located at 490 Aguajito Rd., Monterey, California at 1:30 p.m. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Rex Hancock Whitworth, M.D., please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.