Historical Summary of the Bloss Family and
Bloss Memorial Healthcare District

The story of Bloss Memorial Healthcare District is rooted in the vision, generosity, and
community commitment of the Bloss family, early settlers whose legacy continues to shape the City of Atwater and the surrounding region.

Early Settlement and Community Leadership (1884–1926)

In 1884, George Samuel Bloss, Sr., his wife Ella Stone Bloss, and their children George Stone
Bloss, Jr. and Edna Mitchell Bloss arrived in Atwater from Bethlehem, Connecticut. After
Ella’s passing in 1893, George Bloss later married Edna C. Thompson in 1904, deepening the
family’s ties to their Connecticut roots.

The Bloss family quickly became central figures in the growth of Atwater. George S. Bloss, Sr.
donated land for major community institutions, including the Atwater Hotel (1908) and the
First Methodist Church. Their commitment extended into civic leadership, with George S.
Bloss, Jr. serving as Atwater’s first mayor when the city incorporated in 1922.

In memory of his grandson George Thompson Bloss (1914–1921), George S. Bloss, Sr. built the
Bloss Library in 1925 and supported further civic development. In 1926, Edna Thompson Bloss
donated land for the Atwater Women’s Club, further reinforcing the family’s philanthropic
influence on the city’s cultural and social life.

Foundation of Bloss Hospital (1930–1948)

Upon his death in 1930, George Samuel Bloss, Sr. ensured his legacy would advance community health. His will directed that two acres of land and $50,000 be dedicated to establishing a hospital named in honor of his first wife: the Ella Stone Bloss Memorial Hospital. Construction began in 1935, and by December 1936 the hospital opened its doors as both a Children’s Tubercular Hospital and an adult medical facility, operated under Merced County General Hospital.

The campus soon included the Sunshine School (1937–1942; reopened 1946–1957), serving children who were hospitalized or disadvantaged. Between 1948 and 1957, the hospital played a significant role in treating seventy-six polio patients, later evolving into a facility caring for elderly patients as regional healthcare needs changed.

In 1948, George S. Bloss, Jr. and his wife Christine Thompson Bloss expanded the hospital with additional private rooms and a sun porch, continuing their family’s tradition of supporting local healthcare.

Creation of Bloss Memorial Hospital District (1957–1971)

As healthcare demands grew, the Bloss family, joined by local attorney Joseph Lebeda, spearheaded the movement to convert the hospital into a publicly governed district. Voter approval in 1958 established the Bloss Memorial Hospital District, transferring ownership from the City of Atwater to the new district. The first Board of Directors included:

 Satoru George Miyake, President
 Louis Passadori, Vice President
 Elmer L. Barron, Secretary
 G.E. (Ed) Willhoite
 Frank Sparks

The district encompassed 42.5 square miles, including Atwater and Winton. The Bloss family continued to contribute financially during the 1960s, supporting renovations and providing for new administrative facilities.

The passings of George S. Bloss, Jr. (1963) and Christine Bloss (1971) established the George S. Bloss and Christine T. Bloss Trust, which continues to support Bloss Memorial Healthcare District and local high schools through annual scholarship distributions.

Expansion, Partnerships, and Transition (1995–2018)

In 1995 the district adopted the name Bloss Memorial Healthcare District (BMHD). A year later, the district acquired Castle Air Force Base Hospital through a Public Benefit Transfer, marking a major expansion.

By 1998, following the closure of the original hospital, BMHD transitioned to operating community clinics, including services in urgent care, laboratory, radiology, and rural health. A Winton clinic was added, and partnerships such as the Central California Dental Surgicenter (1999) and later the Children’s Dental Surgery Center in Stockton (2009) expanded regional dental services.

In 2004, BMHD began doing business as Castle Family Health Centers, reflecting its growing clinical footprint. In 2009, the district transferred clinic operations to Castle Family Health Centers, Inc., a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, while BMHD took on the role of landlord and community health partner.

Between 2014 and 2018, BMHD reorganized and eventually sold its dental surgery centers, redirecting its focus toward community partnerships and strategic healthcare support.

Modern Leadership and Continuing Legacy (2018–Present)

In late 2023, the Bloss Memorial Healthcare District Board of Directors appointed Kory Billings as Chief Executive Officer, ushering in a period focused on strengthening healthcare partnerships and honoring the Bloss family’s longstanding mission of community service.

Today, BMHD remains committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of Atwater, Winton, and surrounding communities—continuing a legacy that began with a pioneering family whose philanthropy built the foundation for modern healthcare in the region.

Click Here to Download Will of Christine T. Bloss