Frank Smith Bakewell Jr.
Frank Smith Bakewell Jr., M.D., 92, died peacefully Friday, December 7, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz., surrounded by family.
Dr. Bakewell was a well-known and dedicated surgeon in Washington Hospital for 36 years, 1958 to 1994, and an active member of the medical staff of Canonsburg Hospital from 1988 to 1991.
Dr. Bakewell was born June 8, 1926, in Greenville, to Frank S. Bakewell Sr., M.D., and Helen E. Kuehner Bakewell. He married Frances Powell in Heinz Chapel, Pittsburgh, August 21, 1954.
Dr. Bakewell earned his bachelor of science from Allegheny College in 1948 and his doctor of medicine from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1952, after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 during World War II. He completed his medical internship from 1952 to 1953 and residency in general surgery from 1953 to 1958 at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and was chief resident in surgery at UPMC from 1957 to 1958. He was board certified by American Board of Surgery in 1959 and was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1967. Dr. Bakewell was elected president of the Washington County Medical Society in 1969.
From 1973 to 1993, Dr. Bakewell served as president of Washington School Authority, during which time Washington Elementary Educational Park was built.
He and Mrs. Bakewell were active members of First United Methodist Church for over 50 years.
Dr. Bakewell belonged to Masonic Eureka Lodge 290 in Greenville, which he joined in 1947. Dr. and Mrs. Bakewell retired to Tucson, for the “best climate in the world,” as he often said.
Dr. Bakewell is survived by his wife of 64 years, Frances Bakewell; daughter and son-in-law Susan Bakewell Sachs, Ph.D., RN, and Jonathan Sachs, M.D., of Portland, Ore., and their sons Andrew and Evan Sachs; his son and daughter-in-law, Brock K. Bakewell, M.D., and Colleen Shehan Bakewell, M.S.N., FNP/NNP, of Tucson, and their sons Brock Kyle, Luke and Brett Bakewell.
Dr. Bakewell will be remembered for his quick wit, his joke-telling ability and his love for ballroom swing dancing with Fran.
A private memorial and committal service was held December 24 in Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Marana, Ariz.
Donations may be made in his honor to Washington Hospital and First United Methodist Church of Washington or Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Tucson.