Patrick Hubert Beckham

    Our hearts are heavy with sadness at the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather Patrick Hubert Beckham.  He died at home Sunday evening, April 30, 2023, at the age of 88.
    Born on September 16, 1934, to W. J. and Josephine Fisk Beckham, Pat grew up in Lamesa, TX along with his two older brothers, C.T. “Sparkey” Beckham and W. J. “Josh” Beckham, and younger sister, Patricia “Cookie” Beckham.  He graduated from Lamesa High School in 1953, then attended Baylor University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957.  He went on to Baylor University College of Medicine, receiving his medical degree in 1961.  He completed an internship and three years of a General Surgery residency at Minneapolis General Hospital in Minneapolis, MN (now known as Hennepin County General Hospital).  His education was interrupted at that time by his military service. He entered the Air Force in June 1966 spending his first year stationed as a general surgeon at the U. S. Military Base at Cam Ranh Bay in Viet Nam and the second year at Clarke Air Force Base in the Philippines.
    While in residency in Minneapolis, Pat met Margene Thornton and at the end of his year in Viet Nam, they were married in Honolulu on May 3, 1967.  During his year stationed in the Philippines, they traveled extensively in the Far East.  Their trips included the many islands of the Philippine archipelago, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and Malaysia.
    When they returned to the States, he completed a two-year residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Utah and LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT followed by a fellowship in Hand Surgery at the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Kentucky.  
    Their next move was to Austin, TX in 1971 where Pat set up his private practice as the third plastic surgeon to serve the Austin area. He was active in the Austin community and in Covenant Presbyterian Church serving as an elder and a deacon.  He was a member of the Downtown Rotary and received the highest award given by Rotary International, the “Service Above Self” award.
    Pat and Margene are blessed with three children, Evan Patrick, Anne Kathryn, and Joshua Thornton and three grandchildren, Madalyn Montgomery, William Beckham, and Jayden Garcia.  They have traveled extensively, visiting over 50 countries.  Pat had a golden voice and sang in chorus and in quartets over the years.  He loved cycling, flying and Baylor football.  As an avid private pilot, he had float and ski plane ratings, instrument and commercial licenses as well as twin engine certification resulting in over 2,000 hours of time in the air.  They enjoyed bicycling adventures both in the States and in Europe.  A special favorite was bicycling across Iowa in RAGBRAI, which they did for five consecutive years.  They would dip their back wheel in the Missouri River on Sunday and their front wheel in the Mississippi River the following Saturday accompanied by their children and friends. 
    Patrick Hubert Beckham personified the real American Hero.  As a medical student in 1960, he was sent as a Baptist Student Union summer missionary to Pusan, South Korea, where he worked in the William Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital. He met several orphaned children at the hospital and became aware of the problem of unsupported orphanages left after the Korea war was over.  
Then a few years later as a U.S. Air Force Captain, stationed at Cam Ranh Bay, Pat founded an orphanage for the children of the Viet Nam war, the Cam Ranh City Christian Orphanage.  He worked with the Chaplain at the air base and Christian missionaries in the area to set up an organization with an endowment to supply regular income after the troops were no longer there.    Pat said that “Many willing servants were instrumental in starting the orphanage, but it was God’s Hand that guided it all.”
    This endowment was instrumental in helping the entire orphanage with 90 plus orphans’ escape bringing them all through a dramatic and miraculous journey to the Buckner Children’s Home in Dallas, Texas. Today, these orphans, now adults. still celebrate their escape to the United States and share their stories of God’s mercy and grace. They have told Pat how grateful they are for his passion to keep them safe.  
    Another heroic act involves three plastic surgeons in Austin – Dr. Jim Cullington, Dr. Jim Fox and Pat – who came together, sharing their experiences doing medical mission work around the world. These three doctors were inspired to start their philanthropic idea of providing free cleft lip/palate surgery forming Austin Smiles in 1987. For over three decades, Pat’s participation with teams of doctors has blessed thousands of Latin American children because of this life-changing surgery.  Pat’s inspirational approach to giving back and his devotion to Austin Smiles’ life-changing work was truly contagious.  
    He is survived by his wife, Margene;  two sons, Evan and Josh; grandchildren Madalyn, William and Jayden; son-in-law, Gus Garcia, all of Austin; brothers, C.T. “Sparkey” and wife Merrie Beckham of Dallas, W.J. “Josh” Beckham of The Woodlands; sister, Patricia “Cookie” Puckett of Horseshoe Bay; sister-in-law, Kathy Thornton, RSM of Cedar Rapids, IA; brothers-in-law, William Thornton and his wife Judy of Willis, TX; and John Thornton and his wife, Jan of Sugar Land; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives around the world.
    He is preceded in death by his parents, W.J. and Josephine Beckham, daughter Anne Beckham Garcia, sister-in-law Virginia Beckham, brother-in-law John Puckett, sister-in-law Vicki Thornton, and brother-in-law Daniel Thornton.
    The world is a better place because of Pat Beckham. He dedicated his life to his family and the service of others.  He always showed impeccable kindness and grace to everyone.  Time spent with him was always special and meaningful.  Above all, he loved the Lord Jesus Christ and served him faithfully throughout his life.
    A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, May 12, 2023, at Covenant Presbyterian Church,3003 Northland Drive, Austin, Texas 78757. 
    Pat willed his body to Baylor College of Medicine.  An interment at the Columbarium at Covenant Presbyterium Church will occur at a later date.
    While we will all miss Pat, we rejoice that he is now healed and experiencing “fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11) with His Lord and Risen Savior – and we look forward one day to the Great Reunion with him in Glory!
    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Austin Smiles, in memory of Dr. Pat Beckham’s legacy to Austin Smiles online at www.austinsmiles.org or mailed in to: 9415 Burnet Rd. Suite 207, Austin, TX 78758 or to the charity of your choice.
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