George William Girvin was born November 28, 1927 on the family farm in Arickaree, Colorado to Hazel Travis and William George Girvin. He died at home on July 5, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.

He spent his childhood on the farm and rode his horse, Jigs, starting at age six, nearly 3 miles to elementary school. He later boarded in Flagler, Colorado to attend high school. He studied science at the University of Colorado at Boulder, then moved to the Denver campus for medical school. It was there that he met his future wife, Lila Shaw. They married on June 21, 1951. Their seventy three year marriage brought great happiness.

After an internship at Detroit Receiving Hospital, Michigan, the couple moved to Seattle, WA for his surgical residency at the University of Washington and there he was involved in pioneering research using artificial vascular grafts. He became a board-certified surgeon at the age of 27. While in Seattle, their first two sons, Timothy and Robert were born.

George served two years in the US Army as Chief of Surgery, Patterson Army Hospital, Ft. Monmouth, NJ. During his residency George had spent a several month rotation working at the VA Hospital in Spokane and fell in love with the area. The young family settled here and George started a solo surgical practice serving not only Spokane, but several smaller communities including Davenport and Deer Park. Their next two sons, Jonathan and Matthew were born here.

George savored the land. In 1964, he bought a modest farm on Browne’s Mountain as a place for renewal and inspiration, satisfying his interest in gardening and forestry. He and Matthew spent a summer remodeling an old cabin there. Matthew Girvin, a UNICEF program officer, tragically died in 2001 in Mongolia in a helicopter accident during a rescue mission after a winter blizzard.

George was a technically skilled and profoundly compassionate physician. As a surgeon he had a unique quality of humanity and kindness, coupled with graceful humility. He was revered by his patients, loved by his nurses and sought out by his colleagues—everywhere he went, nurses, patients and their families recognized him as the physician who had so significantly contributed to their lives and professional experiences. During the age of general surgery, he did everything…from trauma to cancer, from vascular to endocrine and GI surgery.

While he loved his work in medicine, he was also an avid cloud and sky watcher, and rain measurer. He enjoyed sailing and playing tennis and was an adventuresome skier (up to age 91). He participated as a runner in Bloomsday for more than two decades. As a global traveler, he savored meeting people from around the world. His relationships with his family and friends were enlivened with optimism, humor and shared love of life.

A persistent outdoorsman, he led dozens of family camping and hiking adventures. He was deeply involved in scouting and participated in many 50 mile hikes, taught several merit badges and raised four Eagle scouts.

George was deeply involved in the Spokane regional community. He was active in Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Hanford Education Action League, Medical Service Corps board, Spokane Parks Foundation, and the Museum of Arts and Culture Foundation as well as local and national medical organizations. And, unfailingly, he stretched and framed countless canvases for his wife, Lila Shaw Girvin, a widely recognized painter.

This last year, we had the gift of time with him to reflect and be grateful. It was our privilege to care for a man who had given us so much. George is survived by his wife, three sons, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren, There will be a celebration of life at 2 pm on September 28th at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Spokane.

If you were unable to attend the memorial service, you may view the memorial by clicking George W Girvin Memorial Service.