Frank Thomas Padberg Sr.

Frank Thomas Padberg Sr, MD age 96, passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family on April 5, 2014. He was born on March 9, 1918 in Canton Oklahoma to Albert F Padberg, the town's general medical practitioner and Mayme Thomas Padberg who taught school. Graduating Canton High School he attended Wentworth Military Academy. As a professionally trained baritone, he served as Soloist during these years and considered a vocal "career". As the 1937 Honor Graduate from Wentworth he was eligible for appointment to West Point, but elected to pursue a medical career at Northwestern University, Chicago Illinois. He also excelled at this institution, was elected to AOA, the academic medical Honor Society, and graduated in 1943. He was selected for internship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Helen Louise Swan, of Konawa Oklahoma, and Frank were married on Feb 6, 1943 and celebrated their 71st anniversary in 2014. As a Captain in the US Army Medical Corps he deployed to Bristol UK, Cherbourg France, and Liege Belgium, from June 1942 to April 1946 with the 298th General Hospital. Returning to Northwestern, he completed a residency in surgery and neurosurgery training with Loyal Davis, author of surgical and neurosurgical textbooks and father of Nancy Reagan. The family moved to Little Rock bringing the newly formulated specialty of Neurosurgery to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Little Rock Veterans Affairs Hospitals in 1952. A practice in Neurosurgery was based at St Vincent's Hospital from 1952-1973. During this time he became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and served as President of the Arkansas Chapter. The Arkansas State Nurses Association awarded him Honorary Recognition in 1969. He was an active member of Rotary International and The Little Rock Club. Frank and Helen maintained dual residency in Chicago and Little Rock after he accepted a position as Director of Fellowship and Graduate Medical Education with the American College of Surgeons in 1973. He received the College's Distinguished Service Award in 1988 and retired from the College in 1999. The Surgical Section of the National Medical Association honored him with their Distinguished Service Award that same year. In addition to the ACS, he was a member of other distinguished surgical organizations including the American Surgical Association, the Southern Surgical Association, the Southern Neurosurgical Society and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. As an active member of the Second Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Frank served as an Elder and was an active participant in the Men's Bible class; in Chicago he served as a Deacon in 4th Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois. During church services his projected baritone supplemented the inspiration inherent in the hymns. International travel was a frequent diversion and he managed to visit every continent but Antarctica. He and Frank Jr. went behind the iron curtain to visit eastern Europe and Russia during the era of the cold war. The entire family participated in several reunions with the Familienverband Padberg (the international Padberg family) attending several reunions in St Louis, USA as well as Berlin, Cologne, & Padberg, Germany. Frank maintained a relationship with the families in Canton, Oklahoma and was a contributor to the church. Frank had a distinguished and honest character coupled with a heart for gracious generosity to less fortunate associates and charitable giving. Frank was predeceased by his older sister, Louise Aline Padberg Souders, MD of Rock Island, Ill., and both parents. He is survived by his wife, Helen, his daughter, Kristen (Denver Colo.), his son, Frank Jr, his daughter-in-law, Sharon, and his grandson, Frank III (Berkeley Heights, N.J.). A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2014 at the Second Presbyterian Church 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral home and online guestbook will be maintained at www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.