Dr. John Ben Eitel passed away Sunday, December 28, 2008. He was born September 2, 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A founder of Doctor’s Hospital (now Renaissance Hospital), in Port Arthur, he practiced medicine in the area for more than fifty years and continued to see patients even after his retirement in the late eighties. He really lived every day of his life, still driving his car, still planning ski vacations, still caring for his beloved wife, Elaine, and still dispensing his own brand of dry, often blunt observations about current events.
Dr. John was beloved by patients and friends throughout the area. His charm and delightful sense of humor were matched with an extraordinary ability to heal the sick. He was perpetually on call and missed many vacations and holidays because he would not leave an expectant mother or a critically ill patient. He was a doctor, first, last and always, but he knew how to have fun, too. As a youngster in St. Petersburg, Florida, he wriggled under a fence to see exhibition games played by the New York Yankees. Caught and reprimanded by a guard, he was rescued by his idol, the great Babe Ruth, who insisted he be allowed to attend games by way of the fence anytime he liked. He spent many happy afternoons with Dizzy Dean, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. The family treasures pictures of Dr. John with Dean and Ruth.
Growing up in Tulsa, Dr. John lived near Bob Wills who frequently invited him to hear his band rehearse He remained a Bob Wills fan the rest of his life.
One of his great friends was Jim Braud who was the creator of the Port Neches Crawfish Races in the early 1970’s. According to Texas Monthly Magazine, several of Dr. John’s crawfish were winners in the races. All had colorful names.
His wife, Elaine, and his daughters Lynda Eitel and Bette Birdsong, son in law Dr. Michael Birdsong, and grandson, Bryan Birdsong, survive Dr. John,
A visitation will be held Sunday, January 4, 2009 from 2 PM until 5 PM at the family residence, 2133 12th St. in Port Neches.
