Jack Delano Bargainer

Jack Delano Bargainer M. D. died peacefully on August 15th, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, August 25th 2018 at The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene with the Right Reverend James E. Folts, retired, officiating. A private interment of ashes will be held in the Heavenly Rest Columbarium following the service. Arrangements were handled by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Jack Bargainer was born in Baytown, TX on November 18th 1935 to Ashley Tilmon Bargainer and Lila Mae (Baker) Bargainer. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown and The University of Texas at Austin. Jack continued his education at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, achieving a Doctor of Medicine in 1961 and a residency in internal medicine in 1963. He completed a cardiology residency at Vanderbilt University in 1965.

In 1966 Jack was drafted into the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam War as the Chief of Medicine at the U.S. Army 5th Field Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Major Jack Bargainer received The Army Commendation Medal. In 1970 Jack and his family moved to Abilene, TX and he joined Cardiology Associates (subsequently Abilene Diagnostic Clinic).

Dr. Bargainer was the first interventional cardiologist in Abilene, establishing the first cardiac catheterization lab at West Texas Medical Center and performing the first heart catheterization in Abilene in 1970. In 1985, Jack was a founding partner of Cardiology Consultants. He was a Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (Emeritus). Dr. Bargainer retired from Cardiology Consultants in 2011 after more than 40 years of providing cardiac care to the patients he loved.

Jack’s impact on Abilene and the Big Country was both broad and deep, his patients adored him, his colleagues trusted and respected his judgment and admired his ability to communicate the human principles of healing to both his patients and the community. His ethical and moral standing and personal humility was outstanding and served as an example to many he mentored. Our loss is immeasurable.

Jack Bargainer is survived by his wife Ruth, children and spouses Roni Bargainer and Auriel, Jackie Nixon, Carl and Ellen Bargainer, Tim and Annette Bargainer, and Shannon Bargainer; grandchildren Leah Edwards (Adam), Jared Nixon, Ben Bargainer, Abby Bargainer, and Mari Lee Bargainer; sisters Maxene Gary and Beverly Bargainer; niece Sheryl Lambert (David), and great-nephews Jason and Jonathon Lambert. Jack is also survived by Ruth’s parents Cherry Shiflet and Victor (Janice) Sharpe, sisters-in-law Miriam (Curt) Scharer, Abigail (Dewayne) Davis, and Vered (David) Mitchell; nieces/nephews Idan Rozin, Sydney Rozin, Jade Workman (Guy), Hope Reynolds (Joey), Emily Davis, Shayla Mitchell, Matthew Mitchell, Ashley Murray, Christopher Davis, Brittany Jolly, and David Davis; and by Sue Young. 

Jack Bargainer was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law James Gary, Judy Abraham Bargainer, Carl and Lucille Abraham, Alamo and Mozelle Nixon, and Donald Shiflet.

Jack’s family expresses gratitude to Dr. Keith Robinson, Dr. Nancy Daggubati, caregivers Salome Gomez and Hope Devora, the Parker-5 nursing staff at Hendrick Medical Center and Hendrick Hospice Care, Encompass Home Health, and so many others who cared for Jack.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jack Bargainer’s name may be made to Global Samaritan Resources, Hendrick Hospice Care, or Meals on Wheels.