Dr. Mark Lyndon Bing, M.D.

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Mark Lyndon Bing, revered physician and life-long servant of Katy, Texas, passed away from the effects of Fragile X Tremor and Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) peacefully at home surrounded by family. His passing shortly follows 36 fervent years of medical practice with special adoration for the underserved.

He married his loving wife, Kelly Beck Bing in 1987. He is survived by her and his five beautiful children: Elizabeth Cools and husband Joshua Cools, Ethan Bing and wife Claudia Wei, Natalie Morgan and husband Cody Morgan, Mariel Godeaux and husband John Godeaux, and Elliot Bing along with 5 grandchildren and 2 miracle grandbabies on the way. He will be watching over and protecting them from heaven.

Mark was the eldest son of Doctor Lyndon Bing and Dorothy Bing and brother of Sarah Turner, Rebecca Quantz, Martha Culbreth, and Doctor Paul Bing. He loved trains, chess, morse code, running, shortwave radio, the Katy Tigers and like many young boys of that time, he was particularly fond of blowing things up. He would walk the sidelines with his father at Katy Tiger football games instead of his own Kinkaid School games. Much like his Uncle Arlys, he loved to outsmart anyone and everyone. He was once sent to the barn during a family lunch after his father grew tired of hearing him sing the jingle from the Chuck Davis Chevrolet commercial, one too many times. Mark made sure to belt the tune loud enough for everyone to hear in the house, much to his parent’s dismay. And when his mother punished him by making him walk home one day, he had a grand time strolling down the railroad tracks. He took his time, and arrived well after dark, worrying his mother sick.

He practiced medicine insistently and unceremoniously and delivered treatment without the desire or care for glory.

His medical training began in Guatemala where he was accepted into the Opus Dei Catholic community. He learned Spanish and treated the impoverished population with limited resources at hand. It broke his heart wide open. And from that crevice, an endless torrent of love, compassion, and strength never stopped flowing. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Marshall School of Medicine in West Virginia and returned to Katy to practice alongside his father. Lines quickly grew out the door as he’d steal out to the back to paint his boyish grin upon the afternoon train chugging by.

As if he was not busy enough, he earned his Master’s in Public Health at the University of Texas and Master’s in Liberal Arts at Houston Baptist University. He sat on the University of Texas at Houston Medical School Admissions Committee. He precepted medical students and nurse practitioners, some practicing in Katy today. Out of his dozens of accolades, he was most proud to receive the Phillip Overton Award from the Texas Medical Foundation for his commitment to improving healthcare in Texas.

Doctor Bing was instrumental in expanding medical care as Katy exploded. He was a founding partner of the Medical Colleagues of Texas which has touched the lives of over 75,000 Katyites to date. He helped the development Katy Medical Complex and what has now become Memorial Hermann Katy Rehabilitation Hospital. He dedicated years to treating nursing home and hospice patients. He touched the hearts of these patients; he came to them as a clinician, and as they left, a friend. He always made sure everyone had a smile on their face. Many will hear the echoes of his shuffling feet and loud sipping of Diet Coke in the halls of his practice, affiliated hospitals, and nursing homes for years to come.

Doctor Bing gave in all areas of his life. Providing an exhaustive list would be a feat in itself. He was most notably known as the Katy High School football team physician. He was incredibly proud to take over the role from his father earning 5 state rings along the way. He missed only a handful of games in his lifetime, even flying home from a family vacation to attend a playoff game in 2001. He was incredibly humbled by his admission into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame and the Katy ISD Hall of Honor. Sponsoring the state championship rings for Katy’s 1959 football team, received decades later, was also a cherished moment for him. His love for student athletics extended beyond football, serving the Katy ISD wrestling program as a program physician and wrestling official. His instrumental support in the Greater Houston Cycling foundation boosted the Alkek Velodrome’s youth cycling program for decades.

His unfaltering support extended beyond student athletics and growth, but in so many areas of the community. You could often find him supporting his mother Dorothy at City Council meetings, cheering on Katy ISD FFA students by lending space in his barns and bidding on livestock auctions, hosting foreign exchange students, and spending countless hours teaching academic decathlon. Doctor Bing was a huge supporter of academic success. Doctor Bing also served as the medical director for several nursing care facilities, Katy Fire Department, and several other Katy area fire departments and EMS agencies for many years. He looked forward to attending and participating in the annual Katy Police Department fish fry and Katy Fire Department supper fundraisers.

Doctor Bing had a love of trains that began when he was just a boy. He fondly reminisced about hearing the engines roar through old town Katy. The obsession only grew; Elm Street Station was later born. He opened his home and his station, serving hot dogs, lemonade, and train rides to the community. He was especially excited when Boy Scouts came to run the trains and earn their railroad merit badge. And if that wasn’t enough, he eagerly kept busy cleaning windows, making beds, and assuming porter responsibilities on his private pullman car, the Silver Iris. The joy that the Silver Iris brought him and all that travelled with him was unparalleled. The private car has since been retired and Doctor Bing graciously donated it to the Wheels Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico where it will reside for all to see and enjoy.

Doctor Bing leaves behind a multitude of loving staff, medical partners, friends, and family that have remained by his side for many, many years. While it proves impossible to illustrate the impact he leaves behind, we celebrate the footprint he has left on each of our hearts.

Visitation services to honor Doctor Bing will be held Wednesday the 13th of January at 5pm at Schmidt Funeral Home, Grand Parkway. A celebration of life Mass will be held at Saint Bartholomew Catholic Church in Katy on Thursday the 14th of January at 10am. An escorted procession and private graveside service will follow.

In respect of Doctor Bing’s life-long mission to keep Katy healthy, the family encourages strict, social distance measures. All persons with exposure to COVID-19, symptoms, or concerns are asked to pay their respects by attending the streamed service virtually. Masks will be required at all services and temperature checks will be taken at both locations.

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In lieu of flowers, the family asks those to consider donating to the FXTAS Research Fund at the UC Davis MIND Institute in memory of Doctor Mark Bing. This will further Doctor Bing’s legacy in helping others, especially those suffering from this little known, debilitating disease. You may give securely online at https://give.ucdavis.edu/MIND/FXTASRF. Or, checks, made payable to UC Davis Foundation and can be mailed to the address below. Please include “FXTAS Research Fund in memory of Doctor Mark Bing” in the memo line. FXTAS Research Fund, US Davis Advancement Services, c/o In Memory of Dr. Mark Bing 202 Cousteau Place #185, Davis, CA 95618.

Condolences may be expressed at www.SchmidtFuneralHome.net

Funeral services held under the direction of:

Schmidt Funeral Home
1344 W. Grand Parkway South
Katy, Texas  77494 
(281) 391-2424

Mark Bing, Mark Lyndon Bing, Dr. Bing