M.D. Kendrick J. Gilleran

m.d. j. gilleran
J. Gilleran Kendrick, M.D., retired OB/Gyn of Wichita passed away of heart disease peacefully surrounded by family, on March 23rd at Wesley Medical Center at the age of 86. Gil was the first child born at Wesley Medical Center, the beginning of a life-long relationship with the hospital. At Wesley he served as Chairman of the Ob/Gyn Clinical Staff, Chief of Staff, and President of the Medical Staff, a member of the Wesley Board of Trustees, Wesley Corporation Board of Directors, a founding member and President of the Wesley Medical Research Institute, a member of the Ob/Gyn teaching staff, founding member of the Wesley Medical Ethics Committee, a founder of the Womens Clinic P.A. and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Sedgwick County Hospital. After retiring as a practicing physician in 1983, he worked in administration as Senior V.P. of Medical Services at Wesley until his retirement in 1996. During his career he delivered approximately 20,000 babies. He was a devoted and loving husband, son and father. He loved traveling with his family, flying his plane, fishing throughout North America, and along with Mary, spoiling his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years Mary E. Kendrick, his parents Henry and Bess Kendrick. Survived by his children and their spouses Nancy and John Swafford of Kansas City, MO, Rev. Skip and Nancy Kendrick of Wichita, Betsey and Ed Lippert of Eden Prairie, MN; grandchildren C. Matthew Swafford, Paul Kendrick Lippert and D. Michael Lippert; great-grandchildren Zachary and Alexander Swafford; nephew, Thomas Dyer; honorary 3rd daughter Katie Buck and good friend Dorothy Brunson. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday April 7th at Larksfield Place, 7373 E. 29th St. N. with the Reverend Robert Eades officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Nature Conservancy 700 S. W. Jackson, #804, Topeka 66603 and the Kansas Health Ethics, Inc. 5900 E. Central, #101, Wichita 67208. Downing and Lahey East Mortuary.

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  1. Dear Nancy,Skip,and Betsey, Your father was a good and wonderful man, as well as a great doctor. Frank and I have very fond memories of your father and mother. They were very good to us and our family. Know that they are together again and very proud of all of you. Respectfully yours, Frank and Deanna Botteri

  2. Your husband/dad/grandfather was both my mothers and my doctor. He was my mother’s doctor for a much longer time than I was, as I moved out of state. My mother hated to see him retire as he took care of her for many years. When he was going to retire Mom asked him what he was going to do and he said he wanted to do some carpentry things. He stated that he never could do them because he had to be so careful with his hands. I hope he was able to spend many hours doing the things he loved when he retired.

  3. Dear Nancy, Skip, and Betsy – Our families have been so close for a long time. Our parents were friends before we were born. What a wonderful group they were! Please know that our prayers are with you as we all mourn Gil’s passing. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful doctor. He was there when I was born, and he delivered Elizabeth. I value his wisdom and friendship. Love, Cathy and Mike Feemster

  4. Hi. I am the Paramedic who ran your husband/father in to the ER on March 22. He told me in the ambulance while we were in route to Wesley that he was a retired OB/GYN M.D. He smiled when he was remembering his life as an OB doctor and all of the babies he delivered. He was a very sweet man during the call, despite not feeling well. I ended up taking another patient to Wesley ER after Dr. Kendrick, so I stopped back in his room to see how he was doing. He seemed very touched that I came back to see if he was feeling any better. I was saddened to see that he passed away a day later. My deepest sympathies are with your family.

  5. What a gentleman! Dr. Kendrick became my doctor when I moved to Wichita in 1964, having been recommended to me by my former doctor in Manhattan, Kansas. His kindness and love for his fellow man was apparent to all. He treated everyone with respect and was respected by all. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. My sympathy to his family.

  6. Dr. Kendrick was the kindest doctor I have ever seen. He delivered my son and later did my hysterectomy. He was so sympathetic that he had to do the surgery and I knew he was genuinely concerned about my well being. He will always be remembered by me. He was my mother’s doctor and my sister-in-law’s as well.


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