Roll Call Tribute

John Earl Hildebrand, M.D. 

January 5, 1933 - May 13, 2025 

Dr. John Earl Hildebrand, MD, with his wife of nearly 70 years at his side, died peacefully at home on May 13, 2025. He was 92. A resident of Flagstaff for 59 years, he was a respected surgeon, and an avid bird watcher, hiker, and skier. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a friend to many.

Dr. John was born January 5, 1933, in Ithaca, NY. He attended Texas A&M University and graduated from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. In medical school, he met and married his wife Rebecca (Becky) Bentley, June 11, 1955. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Germany for three years before returning to Santa Barbara, CA, to complete his residency in General Surgery. In August 1966, he and Becky moved to Flagstaff with their four daughters to settle into life, and what a life it was.

Dr. John began his medical career in Flagstaff and Williams when there were no surgical sub-specialists in the region, so he was a true general surgeon. Throughout his long career, he was also an active leader in the community. He served on the FUSD School Board from 1975 to 1980, led Boy Scout and Girl Scout hikes, mapped a section of the Arizona Trail, served as naturalist for Colorado River trips, and supported local environmental and scientific programs.

Always curious and scientific by nature, he explored Arizona and every continent. He hiked all the official trails in the Grand Canyon and some that weren’t. He cultivated a childhood interest for birds into a life-long passion and life list of at least 4199 birds. The benefit of bird watching, he said, was that you had to be outside to do it. This love of the outdoors and the natural world is his legacy to his family.

He is survived by his wife, Becky, daughters Margo Donnelly (Mark), Beth Battles (Brandon), Kathleen Wavering (Mark), Carolyn Kohrs (Doug), and brother, Paul Hildebrand (Rebecca). He also leaves his cherished twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Celebration of Life: Sunday, August 3, 2025, 2-5 p.m. The Elks Club, 2101 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff.