Bill R. Westbrook, DVM

He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, the 27th of February 2015 in Houston Texas at Autumn Leaves Memory Care West Houston.

He attended Luling public schools, played football, held class offices in high school and was a Future Farmer of America. He graduated from Luling High School in 1949 and married his high school sweetheart Madeline Maxine Watkins in 1952 and they were married for almost 64 years.

He was admitted to Texas A&M and lived off campus at the annex in barracks Co. 5 T-11 as an Agriculture student. He transferred to Texas A&I College in Kingsville, Texas where he decided to apply for veterinary school at Texas A&M. He was accepted and was on the Dean's List and the outstanding student his freshman year. He graduated from veterinary school in 1955 with highest honors and at the top of his class. After graduation, he started a solo practice in Rockdale, Texas before he became a Federal employee at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. His family was transferred from Atlanta to Waynesboro, Georgia.

In 1957, he was offered a position with the City of Houston and worked for seven years with meat inspection, animal control, and the Houston Zoo while beginning a small animal veterinary practice in the Spring Branch area. He cared for animals and the people who loved their pets.

Dr. Bill had a wide variety of interests. He traveled worldwide with friends and family. He was an avid reader, health enthusiast and gardener, studied master gardening and completed numerous marathons and bicycle rides. He was planning another marathon when he fell off a ladder and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Up until the last Saturday before he passed away, he and his wife supported and attended Urban Harvest's Eastside Farmer's Market in Houston.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Orian C. Westbrook, M.D.; and son, Steven Patrick Westbrook, J.D.

Survivors include wife, Madeline; his sons, William Raymond Westbrook and wife, Susan of Columbus, Ohio and Douglas Len Westbrook and wife Lisa, of Katy, Texas; seven grandchildren including, Jennifer Waddell of Columbus, Ohio, Elizabeth Westbrook and husband, Devon Treece of Oakland, California, Christopher Westbrook of Katy, Texas and Katherine Westbrook, DPM of Milford, Connecticut, Aaron Westbrook, Daniel Westbrook, Abigail Westbrook of Katy, Texas; and great granddaughter, Avery Westbrook of Columbus, Ohio. Other survivors include nephew, Mark Westbrook, M.D. and his wife, Judy of Houston and their children Shannon Hughes and her husband, Michael, and Colin Westbrook of Houston, niece, Jane Ann Galler and husband, Thomas of Waco, Texas, and nephew, Dale Westbrook and wife, Lori of Sugarland, Texas.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 6th of March in the Parlor and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 7th of March at Unity Church of Christianity, 2929 Unity Drive. The family will gather for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

In lieu of the customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Dr. Westbrook's memory may be directed to Unity Church of Christianity, 2929 Unity Drive, or the charity of your choice.