Doctor Enrique Aguilar, loving father, husband and pillar of the community departed to be with his heavenly father on January 12, 2014.
Doctor Enrique Aguilar was born in Mexico City on October 20, 1919 to Colonel Jesus and Sara Belden Aguilar. He graduated from the University of Mexico Medical School in May 1946. His first assignment was that of a company doctor in charge of the medical department of mining companies in the States of Baja California and Guanajuato in Mexico, under very primitive conditions.
After six years service as a mining camp doctor he was accepted as a surgical resident in 1952 at the Laird Memorial Hospital in Montgomery, WV. At the termination of his residency he returned to Monterrey, Mexico to open a private practice. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Bill Laird offered him a permanent position on his staff and Dr. Aguilar and his family returned to Montgomery where he served at Laird Memorial, now Montgomery General Hospital until his retirement in 1995. He practiced general and family medicine, surgery and obstetrics and became a highly respected physician throughout the area. Dr. Aguilar brought over 3,000 of God’s creatures into this world. He was one of the last doctors to make house calls up Paint Creek and Cabin Creek.
He was a member in good standing of the W.V.S.M.A., Fayette County Medical Society, of which he was past president, the A.A.F.P, the Rotary Club of Montgomery where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, the Upper Kanawha Chamber of Commerce, and the Founders Society of 1895 Tech Foundation. He was also a member of the American Medical Association (AMA), the Civil Aviation Medical Association (CAMA), the Upper Kanawha Valley Development Corporation, Montgomery General Hospital Board of Trustees, and past director of the Montgomery National Bank. Dr. Aguilar was an accomplished private pilot and served many years as a senior FAA Medical Examiner and was a member of the Flying Physicians Association. He flew to Mexico nine times in his own aircraft. He was also Director of the Medical Department of the Elkem Metals Plant at Alloy from 1991-2002 when the plant discontinued their medical services.
Throughout his entire life, Dr. Aguilar was heavily involved in community affairs. One of his most notable contributions was spear heading, together with other leaders in the community, the movement to transfer the West Virginia state penitentiary from Moundsville to the Mount Olive Correctional Facility in the Montgomery area.
After fifty seven years of active practice, Dr. Aguilar retired on December, 2002 after closing his private practice on September 30, 1995, and the Elkem Medical Department in December 31, 2002. Dr. Aguilar is survived by his lovely wife Sallie of sixty seven years; four sons, Rick of Hansford, Fernando of Albuquerque, NM, Francisco of Montgomery, Ricardo of York, PA; daughters, Sarita Fraser of Eugene, OR and Charlotte Smith of Wauwatosa, WI; god daughter Cindy Girimont of Charleston, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Dr. Aguilar was a huge proponent of youth development so in lieu of flowers we would appreciate a donation to one of the following organizations; Boy Scout Troop 100, Mr. John McPhail, P.O. Box 118 Pratt, WV 25162 or Mountain State Little League, Mr. Charles Stanley, P.O. Box 15 Hansford, WV 25103 or the charity of your choice. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 16, 2014 at St. Anthony’s Shrine, Boomer with Father Mark officiating. There will be a visitation for friends and loved ones from 10:00 AM until service time at the church. Friends and loved ones were invited to join for a home going celebration luncheon at the Immaculate Conception Church, Montgomery at approximately 12:30 PM. Pennington Funeral Home, Gauley Bridge is in charge of the arrangements. On-line condolences may be sent to the family at www.carlwilsonfuneralhome.com. Pennington Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Aguilar family.
