This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, James Dewhirst, 84, born on September 21, 1929 and passed away on December 23, 2013. We will remember him forever.

James Hardin Dewhirst, M.D.

September 21, 1929 – December 23, 2013

Dr. James Dewhirst, or Dr. D, or Dr. Jim, who practiced Family Medicine in Whittier /Hacienda Heights for 44 years, passed away after a 10 year bravely fought battle with pulmonary fibrosis.  Jim was born in Fresno, CA, but grew up in Bellflower and Whittier.   He attended Whittier High School, but dropped out!  (Yes, the great Dr. Jim, the son of two teachers, was a High School dropout!)  He was bored: more interested in working in the radiator shop, building his roadster, and racing.  He joined the army at age 16 and was stationed in Japan.  When he returned, he married Alice “Kay” Gardner.  He then joined the National Guard, returned to Japan for a second tour, serving in the medical corps, and came home to his wife and new daughter, Nancy.   Jim attended Whittier College, where he famously blew up the chemistry lab while arriving at the complex, volatile, chemical process that would eventually allow him to reclaim diamonds from used concrete saw blades; a process that helped fund his medical education.  He had a shop in El Monte (the one with a green cloud above it).  Couldn’t have helped his lungs! He attended U.S.C. School of Medicine, and began practicing in Whittier in 1959 with Dr. James Fitzgerald.  Dr. Jim then practiced independently until he and his colleagues formed Bright Medical Group, now PIH Health.  He made house calls.  He worked late most nights, and Kay was right there with him.  He was Chief of Staff at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in 1981, on the Board of Directors 1982 – 1988, and elected Director Emeritus in 1988.  Dr. Jim retired in 2003.

Jim was a true renaissance man.  He learned to build every part of a house while working with his father and brothers, growing up.  His knowledge and skill of construction and finish carpentry is legendary. 

He built a green roadster that could leave all the others in the dust.  Newlywed Kay was shocked to learn that she had married “that guy with the green roadster”!  (The one that out ran the police and tucked his car in the garage and himself in bed before they got to his house. - Foreshadowing of cars, boats, and airplanes to come).  He just loved to move fast.  Jim is related to Buddy Hardin Holly, and John Wesley Hardin; a rock’n roll star and a gunslinger - Perfect!  He lived life his way, all the way, with love, gusto, dignity, and integrity.   Jim lives on through the many people he loved, helped and empowered. 

Dr. Dewhirst is survived by his wife, Alice Kathryn (Kay) Dewhirst, daughter Nancy (Andrews) Dewhirst, two granddaughters; Carly Andrews (Brian Sciacca), Kathryn (Jamie) Beckert (Tyler Beckert), and one great granddaughter; Alani Sciacca.  Jim is also survived by his brother, Robert B. Dewhirst D.D.S. (Joan Dewhirst, RDH), and his sister, Dorothy Kosowsky.  In lieu of flowers, please listen to Louis Armstrong’s “It’s a Wonderful World” and/or contribute to the PIH Health Foundation’s Dr. James H. Dewhirst Endowment Fund established by Dorothy (Dewhirst) Kosowsky: (562) 698-0811 ext. 14125. Memorial will be held on February 8th at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital at 2:00 PM.