Walter Esmond Dickinson

Walter Esmond Dickinson, 78, passed away October 19, 2017, at his home in Palm Springs, CA. He was born March 14, 1939, to Ollie Bell Collins Dickinson and Wilson Gordon Dickinson in Amarillo, TX. His father died in a small plane crash when Walter was 2 years old, and his mother died as the result of an automobile accident when he was 9. After that he and his brother and sister were raised by his maternal grandmother and his maternal aunt, Gladys, and her husband Dr. Jordan Grooms, a Methodist minister. Walter and his extended family moved all over west Texas following Dr. Grooms as he was assigned to various churches.

After graduation from Big Spring High School, Walter attended Rice University and then graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in 1965. Upon completion of a surgery internship at Parkland Hospital, he was drafted into the US Army as a Captain and served as an anesthesiologist in Vietnam.

Following completion of his military service, Walter did a surgery residency at Parkland and then entered private practice as a general and vascular surgeon with the Amarillo Surgical Group. He was instrumental in building the group and attracting talented young surgeons to Amarillo. He was also a driving force in the establishment of the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center. During his time in Amarillo, Walter served as president of the Parkland Surgical Society and regional director of the American College of Surgeons. He became Dean of the Amarillo regional campus of Texas Tech Medical School and Chief of Surgery at the Amarillo VA Medical Center. In 1992 he moved to Albuquerque, NM to assume a position as Chief of Surgery at the Albuquerque VA Medical Center and Vice-chair of he Department of Surgery at the University of New Mexico. He retired from medical practice in 1997.

Walter held a private pilot's license from the age of 18, enabling him to fly his plane to manage his ranches in New Mexico. He was managing director of Dickinson Cattle Company, based in Tatum, NM. He was an avid fly fisherman, golfer, and ran many marathons, including the New York Marathon.

Walter was pre-deceased by his sister, Candace Watson, and his brother, Gordon Dickinson. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Judith Fabian Dickinson, his children by his first wife, Marilee: daughter, Deborah Dickinson, sons Dr.Wade Dickinson (Elizabeth) and Doug Dickinson (Erin) and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service is being planned in Amarillo. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Heart Association.