Dr. Rizal Valencia Pangilinan, 66, chairman of the Wheeling Clinic Eye Institute, died Thursday, May 2, 2002, in Wheeling Hospital after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
A child of God, husband, father and grandfather, he was a widely respected ophthalmologist in the Ohio Valley. He established his practice in Wheeling in 1970.
His hospital affiliations were with the Wheeling Hospital, the Ohio Valley Medical Center and East Ohio Regional Hospital. He held positions in numerous charitable, professional, religious and social organizations.
Dr. Pangilinan came to love this area and its people as much as his native Philippines where he was born August 28, 1935, in the capital city of Manila.
Dear Mrs. Pangilinan, Joe and family,
I am unable to visit the funeral home in person, but I am grateful for the opportunity to express my condolences to you this morning. Rizal has been such a Man of Faith, a good husband, father, American and Filipino. He was an example and inspiration to me in many, many ways. He was always so very kind to me, as I am aure he was to the many other people he came in contact with. The patients that we had in common never failed to sing his praises.
While I am sorry for your loss and the void that his death has left in your lives, in the Ohio Valley and the Philippines, I am happy and relieved for him that he is with the Lord and God that he so loved and served in his life.
Rizal has cetainly left this earth a much better place than it was when he first arrived sixty-six years ago.
With love and prayers,
Dr. Joseph Gabis
Dear Nellie,
I was saddened to learn of the sudden death of Dr. Rizal. It is always a shock to hear of the the death of a friend and colleague. I had the greatest respect and admiration for him and count it a privilege to have worked with him for a time. I know he loved surgery and I am sure it was an adjustment to give that up. My thoughts are with you at this time as you grieve and adjust to your loss of Rizal. I know that both of you had strong faith in God and that is a great comfort at such a time as this. May God be with you and strengthen you as you go forward with your own life.
With love and sympathy,
Dr. Joe W. Morgan
Dear Nelly, Joe, Rey & Nina …
My love, thoughts and prayers are with you.
There’s so much to say about Rizal –
I will miss my good friend. Rizal lived his life on earth as a follower of Jesus Christ and now he truly knows what is means to live in God’s presence. “It’s a beautiful day” was Rizal’s password – no matter who you were and what the purpose of your contact with him. I would laugh and say “Yeh?” Then I came to realize that because Rizal loved God, each new morning was a gift from God to Rizal and each of us, so it was indeed a beautiful day.
I thank God for Rizal’s friendship for over 20 years – we had many conversations about God, the Church, ministry and faith. He was always so supportive and encouraging in so many ways to me during my ministry with the Church.
For us, Rizal was a perfect example of how to live our faith – nothing came before God – everything he did or said was expressed through his faith and love of God.
Rizal nows becomes our advocate before God – he will continue to open our eyes to know that each day is a beautiful day. Rest well, my friend, you have sung God praises loudly in this life and now you enjoy the fullness of His love.
Peace … Toni Oliver
Dear Pangilinan Family,
We just heard about Your husband/father’s passing last night. We are so deeply saddened by his death and our prayers are with your family. Your family was so close to ours and helped us so much when our parents died 17 years ago. We pray that you will find peace.
Love,
The Sendaydiego Children,
Marie, Pat, Eric, Liza, Vivienne, Shelley and Mikel
I am sorry about your loss of your husband for he was a great guy, he helped me out when I had the boy scout troop in warwood and to the boys all I can say is keep the faith for we know God’s will has been done. I will keep the family in my prayers.
John Clemont
Maricris,
My family and I are very sorry to hear about your grandfather. You are all in my prayers.
Madison Basinger
My deepest sympathy to a very special man, I met him once and he made a lasting impression. Please take care and be strong
My wife and I are sorry to hear of the loss of Dr.Pangilinan. We know of all his good professional qualities. We shared a lot of patients in the last 21 years and We heard nothing but good comments of what a great man he was. We had the experience of spending a week in Greece with the Linsly School group and we are filled with good memories. It is truly a loss for the whole community. Our prayers are with you.
Fausto and Sharon Lazo
NELLIE AND CHILDREN,
I WAS SO SORRY TO HEAR OF DR. RIZAL’S PASSING. I ALWAYS ADMIRED HIS LOVING DEVOTION TO GOD AND HIS FAMILY. MAY GOD’S PROMISES OF HEAVEN COMFORT YOU. FRIEND, MARIE IAFRATE
Thom and I are so very saddened to learn of Rizal’s passing. We knew him to be one of the most compassionate and wonderful people we have ever had the honor of knowing. We know he is being embraced in God’s loving arms now and forever. May God bless you and comfort you. Love, Pam and Thom Stevens
Tita Nelly, Joe, Carol, Rey and Nina,
I was very sad to hear about Tito Rizal’s passing. He was a very kind and cheerful person. We will all miss him. You have my deepest sympathy.
Love,
Bong
We share in the tragic loss of your dear spouse, father and grandfather. May the sympathy and prayers of many help you in this difficult time. Rizal did so many good things around the state,for education, for the poor, for the underserved. At the West Virginia Eye Institute we think of him and will honnor him every day as we gather in the Pangilinan family lecture hall. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Monique and Vernon Odom-Leys, Annick and Christine.