Dr. Wendell Whitacre died at home on Oct. 20, 2017 after a sudden illness.  Born in 1927 to Asia and Lena Whitacre, Wendell graduated from Ohio University in 1951 and received his MD from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1955.  He trained in general and plastic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and had a plastic surgery practice in Tucson from 1962 to 2006.  
Wendell’s honors, awards, and professional positions included 2003 Pima County Medical Society Physician of the Year and academic medical positions at the University of Arizona.  He also served as a Civitan leader for many years.  Wendell was a devout practitioner of physical fitness, even at age 90.  The disease and suffering he saw as a physician made him grateful for his own good fortune and health.  He had tremendous grit and was renowned for his frank remarks.  
He is survived by his partner of over 30 years, Theresa Cisler, DO, his brother, Gary Whitacre, MD, four children - Marc Whitacre, MD, Eric Whitacre, MD, Anne Prince, Alice Whitacre, and 9 grandchildren – Matthew, Blake, Valerie, Thomas, Elizabeth, Crysta, Grant, Marc, and Victor.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Lois Owen, MD, and his brother, Victor Whitacre, MD. 

A memorial service will be held in Tucson on Saturday, November 4th from 10 am to noon at the Jewish Community Center.  He requested that any gifts in his memory go to the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross or to the Civitan International Research Center.  His ashes will be placed in the Whitacre family cemetery near Chesterhill, Ohio.