Peter Warren Bickers

Peter Warren Bickers was born on August 30, 1942 and passed away on July 25, 2025, after a brief illness. 

A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 PM, Friday, August 22, 2025 at Polk Street Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. 

His parents, Harry and Eloise Bickers, moved to Tampa, Florida where Peter grew up. He attended Georgia Tech but then transferred to the University of South Florida when he decided to swap chemical engineering for medicine. He realized during his co-op terms that climbing stacks to measure emissions was not how he wanted to spend the rest of his professional life. After graduating from the University of South Florida, he began his medical career at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.

He met his wife of 57 years when they were assigned to dissect the same cadaver. Peter and Gayle were among the four shortest people in the class and the cadaver assignments were based on the height of the tables from the floor. After dating for four years, Peter Bickers and Gayle Holberg were married on March 25, 1968. They moved to Houston, Texas and began pediatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine. In 1970 they transferred to the University of Cincinnati where Gayle began radiology residency and Peter was scheduled to complete his pediatric training.

Peter's career took and abrupt turn when he was drafted into the U.S. Navy as a 1st Lieutenant and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division stationed in Okinawa, Japan. His second year of duty was spent at Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Washington. Looking back, Peter recalled that his only time spent on boats were the Washington State ferry crossings to and from Seattle and Bremerton.

Early in his Bremerton service, Peter was called to the C.O's office along with another medical officer and were informed that they had received the highest security clearance for all areas of the base. This included the nuclear submarine pens. Peter remembered feeling rather flattered but the other officer was a little smarter and asked "Sir, why ?" The C.O. replied that in case of a nuclear accident on one of the subs, Peter and the other physician would be needed at the site.

Following the year in Seattle, Peter and Gayle returned to Cincinnati where they completed their training. They then moved to Omaha, Nebraska where they lived for 10 years. During that time Peter was in private practice and then joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine.

Peter and Gayle moved to Amarillo, Texas in 1983 to join the faculty of the Amarillo unit of the Texas Tech University School of Medicine directing the Pediatric Clinic. Later he entered private practice. Peter retired from practice in the 1990's and began a second career in mission work and education. Peter was a mentor for AISD and was the Star Volunteer in 1997 and awarded a Golden Apple in 1988 and 1989. Peter also made four medical mission trips to Belarus with CIS, a mission developed by retired Marine Col. Billy Duncan following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The group of physicians, nurses and educators delivered medical supplies, developed a chaplaincy program for prisons and taught programs for pastors and women's groups. This work can to an end with the ascension of the current Belarusian president who curtailed all western Christian humanitarian efforts.

Peter recounted the very scary sinking feeling as he watched his passport disappear into a small slot in a KGB prison where the team were caring out a medical needs survey. The passport was returned and overwhelming relief expressed by it's owner.

Peter loved to travel. He and Gayle visited 46 states, 6 Canadian provinces and 50 countries, some 2 or more times over 55 years. After Margaret and Robert arrived, the family visited the American West and Civil War sites. As the children grew older, trips expanded to Australia, England, Canada and Europe.

Peter possessed a dry and sometimes sly wit. He also had the grace to laugh at the Dad Jokes sent to him on a regular basis by his daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

Peter was quietly active in many philanthropic ways and was especially devoted to projects championed by Aldersgate Sunday School Class and Polk Street Methodist Church.

Peter is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gayle, daughter Margaret, son Robert, daughter-in-law Elisa, and beloved granddaughter Isabel.

The family requests memorials be made to Sharing Hope Ministry, Storybridge, Texas Ramp Project and Polk Street Methodist Church missions.