James Taylor Wharton

James Taylor Wharton, M.D., of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, the 29th of February 2024, after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 85 years of age.

He was born on the 29th of March 1938, to the late Ivy D. Wharton and Era Taylor Wharton in Henderson, Texas. His pre-medical education was received from Stephen F. Austin University. In 1959, Taylor married Mary Louise Hearnsberger. The family is so grateful that their paths crossed on the campus of SFA celebrating the culmination of 65 years of a perfect marriage. That same year, he entered the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas and graduated in 1963 with honors including The Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Taylor completed a rotating internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas before returning to UTMB to complete residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology. He continued his training via a Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

In 1971, after completing his duty in the United States Air Force Service as a Major, he joined the staff of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center as an assistant professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and retired in 2008 after 38 years of service in patient care and research. Throughout his career, Taylor published more than 240 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and edited six books. He was a highly skilled surgeon, professor, and researcher making significant contributions in his field. Taylor was an integral part of the MDACC Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Training program and resident rotation training, all of which included residents from St. Josephs, LBJ, and Hermann Hospitals, also including recipients of the Felix Rutledge Fellowship program annually.

In addition to various academic roles, Taylor served in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology as Deputy Chairman and as Chairman. He was so very proud of his department ranking Top Five nationally by the U.S. News and World Report ranking of “Best Departments in Best Hospitals in America” for 16 consecutive years. Taylor then served as Special Assistant to the President of Patient Affairs.

Throughout his career, he received numerous awards including the Charles B. Barker Chair in Surgery 1990-2003 and the Charles B. Barker Chair Emeritus from 2003-2007. In 2000, Taylor was recognized with the establishment of the J. Taylor Wharton M.D. Distinguished Chair in Gynecologic Oncology. In 2021, he was a proud recipient of the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award. Additionally, Taylor served as President of American Radium Society, President of Society of Gynecologic Oncology and served as President of the Felix Rutledge Society. He also served on the Board of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. and McMoRan Exploration Co and as Consultant for Medical and Health Affairs to the Office for the Chairman.

Taylor had many passions and shared his love of hunting and fishing with all that knew him. He embraced family and friends while practicing the teachings of Pastor Teachers R.B. Thieme, Jr, and R.B. Thieme III at Berachah Church. Blessed with 65 years of marriage and many friends he considered “family”, he will be greatly missed.

Taylor is survived by his wife Mary Louise, brother Arnold Wharton M.D. (Julia) and his three daughters: Amy Vanderhill (Jim), Tiffany Crona (Mark), and Nanci Moon (Todd), his grandchildren: Ceili Baxley, Shannon Collett, Meagan Cochran, Ryan Crona, Travis Crona, Todd Moon Jr., Bryleigh Moon and Linden Moon, his great grandchildren: Anna Baxley, Jennifer Baxley, and Elizabeth Vanderhill Collett, and numerous nieces, nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of Houston Methodist Hospital for their expert care and compassion and his caregivers at Ultra Staff Health Care Staffing Services who helped make Taylor comfortable in his last few months.

A memorial service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 11th of March, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where Jason T. Hughes is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

The family asks, should friends desire, memorial contributions be directed in Taylor’s name to Berachah Church/ Berachah Church Tape and Publications, 2815 Sage Road, Houston TX 77056 or to the U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 or by visiting online https://gifts.mdanderson.org/; or to the charity of one’s choice.

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