F. Preston Titus, 95, who had a long career as a physician in Alexandria, died Jan. 16 of lung cancer at his home in Warsaw, Va. Dr. Titus, who had a specialty in obstetrics and gynecology, practiced in Alexandria for almost 50 years. According to his family, he delivered more than 5,000 babies in Alexandria.

In addition to his private practice, he was chief of the obstetrics and gynecology staff of Alexandria Hospital (now Inova Alexandria Hospital) and president of the hospitals medical staff. He also served on the board of directors of the Medical Society of Virginia and volunteered with the Flora Krause Casey Health Center in Alexandria and the old Alexandria Community Health Center.

Dr. Titus delivered his last baby in 1983 but continued to practice on a limited scale until 1996, when he retired after 56 years as a doctor.

Frederick Preston Titus, who was known familiarly as Pete, was born in Glen Cove, N.Y. As a boy, he decided to be a doctor after witnessing a local physician revive a woman who had been struck by a car.

He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1933 and received a medical degree from the Long Island College of Medicine (now the State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine) in 1940. He had internships and residencies in Baltimore, New Britain, Conn., and New York.

During World War II, Dr. Titus was with the Army Medical Corps in the Philippines as chief obstetrician-gynecologist.

He settled in Alexandria in 1947. He served on many medical committees of the Alexandria Medical Society, as well as the former Alexandria Hospital. He also was a commissioner with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority for many years.

He moved to Warsaw, on Virginias Northern Neck, in 2004.

His wife of 35 years, Elizabeth Betty Titus, died in 1976.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Cordelia Titus of Warsaw; three children from his first marriage, Frederick V. Rick Titus of Olney, Frank Titus of Alexandria and Deborah Titus-Hammett of Mount Airy; a stepdaughter, Tara Silver-Malyska of Dallas; three brothers; a granddaughter; and a great-grandson.