Alexander Graham

Alexander Graham, MD May 17, 1931 – February 12, 2016 Alexander Graham was born on May 17, 1931, in Alexandria, Scotland, the second of two children born to George Sharp Graham and Elizabeth Greer (Thompson) Graham. His sister was Margaret (Peggy) Graham. He attended school at Vale of Leven Academy in Scotland. After he became a physiotherapist, he immigrated to Canada in 1953 and worked with children who had cerebral palsy, with the Ontario Society for Crippled Children. He was sent to Kenora in 1953 to treat polio victims. The following year, Dr. Graham began his medical studies at the University of Western Ontario. He became a member of the Medical School Honor Society and was awarded the Hippocratic Society Gold Key for his four years’ service on the Hippocratic Council. He was also Class President. He was a proud member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Dr. Graham interned for 1 year at Montreal General Hospital, later assisting Dr. Harold Orr in Ridgetown, ON, for 6 months, before doing post-graduate studies in Obstetrics at the Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland. Dr. Graham returned to Kent County in 1960 and set up Chatham’s first group practice with Dr.’s B. Barlow, J. Jenkin, T.L. Walker and A. MacDonald. During his tenure in Kent County, he was Chief of Emergency Services at the Public General Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chief of Family Practice and President of the Kent Medical Society. Dr. Graham married Joan Playfair in 1958, and the two raised 3 children in Chatham. The family moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1978, where he continued to have a Family Medical Practice. Sadly, Joan died in 1980. In 1984, he became Medical Director of and Outpatient Chemical Dependency Program, and in 1986 he began his affiliation with The CareUnit Hospital of Dallas/Fort Worth. In 1989, Alex once again found love and companionship with Hilda (Enright) Echlin, reconnecting himself to the Chatham area. Continuing to live in Fort Worth, he very much enjoyed visiting Chatham, socializing with his dear Canadian friends. After the death of his second wife, Dr. Graham decided to travel the world and enrolled in “Ship’s Host” program that allowed him to cruise around the world, actively making travel and dining arrangements for passengers travelling in his groups. As luck would have it, he found love for a third time with Jan and married in 2005. The two enjoyed travelling the globe, road tripping in “Rosie” the Roadtreck, and spending their summers in Thornbury, ON, escaping the heat of the Texas summers. Alex kept very active playing golf, tennis and skiing. In the last few years of his life, he discovered his talent as a painter. He was a man, full of energy with a zest for life. Always looking for a party or a dance or a new country to visit. Scotland was always his home tho, and he returned often to visit his childhood friends and go a “roamin in the Gloamin”. This past July, it was discovered that he had a brain tumor. His doctor told him that he still had a few months before he would develop symptoms, so if there was anything he wanted to do, he still had time. His reply to that was “I have done everything on my bucket list”. Not many people are as fortunate to be able to make that statement. His greatest sadness was not to be able to share future special events with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Jan (Balfour) Graham, children: Keith Graham (Karn), Robin Frkovic, Bradley Graham, grandchildren: Joan Graham, Alexander and Kristina Frkovic, Jonathan and Finnley Michael, step-sons: Drew Michael (Stephanie) and Seth Michael. A gathering of family and friends will take place at Foust & Son Funeral Home on Monday,February 15, 2016 from 6-8 p.m. A celebration of a life well lived will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at First Baptist Church of Bedford, 2045 Bedford Rd., Bedford, TX 76021. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: The Multiple Sclerosis Society, Brain Tumour Research, The Warm Place or a charity of your choice. www.nationalmssociety.org - www.braintumor.org - www.thewarmplace.org