George M. Boswell Jr.

George M. Boswell, Jr., devoted family-man, skillful and compassionate surgeon, and dear friend to the Dallas community and the United Methodist Church passed from this life on December 5, at his home in Dallas, TX. George was born in Grand Prairie, TX on May 12, 1920 to George Marion Boswell, Sr. and Viola Scarborough Boswell. He attended McMurry College in Abilene for two years and then graduated with a degree in journalism from Texas Tech University in 1937, to pursue his love of photography. George joined the US Navy in 1941 and was in Honolulu during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was a Lieutenant in the amphibious warfare division, and served as a volunteer chaplain and photographer aboard the ships. He received his Master’s degree while serving in the US Naval Reserve, and returned to Dallas in 1946 to attend Southwestern Medical School. George did post-graduate training in surgery at Parkland Hospital, and his residency in orthopedic surgery at Parkland, Scottish Rite Hospital, and Baylor Hospital from 1952-1956. In 1956 he began his private practice, where he continued to see patients up until December of 2010. His deep concern and care for his patients was his trade-mark, along with his unique and intuitive abilities as a diagnostician. An outstanding and innovative surgeon, George performed many new surgery procedures including prosthetic knee arthroplasty, and the anterior cervical spine fusion in the late 50s and early 60s. He also performed one of the first anterior lumbar spine fusions in the southwest, and the first instrumental correction of scoliosis in Dallas. George was well-known for his house calls and his wonderful patience in educating his patients. George felt that his “calling” to practice medicine was as divinely directed as that of a minister. George was a member, chairman, and/or trustee of numerous medical, orthopedic, civic, and United Methodist Church Boards and Associations: including American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Dallas County Medical Association, Texas Orthopedic Association, BUMC Foundation, Perkins School of Theology, The Science Place, and The Dallas Arboretum. George was Chief of Staff at Baylor Hospital in the early 1980s. He also served as a Conference Lay Leader and Delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. George lived life to the fullest and was a true renaissance man. He found time in the midst of a demanding work schedule to enjoy many hobbies including photography, gardening, leather-work, travelling, and cheering for the Texas Longhorns, Tom Landry’s Cowboys, and the Texas Rangers. George also held ham radio and pilot’s licenses. George is preceded in death by his parents, George and Viola, brother, Harold Boswell of Decatur, and son-in-law Robert (Bob) Koudelka of Dallas. He is survived by his wife, Veta Fuller Boswell, daughter Brianna Brown and her husband Randall C. Brown of Dallas, daughter Kama Koudelka of Dallas, daughter Maia Boswell-Penc and husband Stan Penc of Albany, NY. George was lovingly devoted to the health and happiness of his 8 grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Sparkman Hillcrest on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 4:30pm – 6:30pm. The burial will take place at the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery on Friday, Dec. 9 from 1:15 – 1:30. A memorial service to celebrate the life of George will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Dallas on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the First United Methodist Church of Dallas, the First United Methodist Church of Richardson, or the Dallas Arboretum.