DR. FELIPE V. LAVAPIES OBITUARY Dr. Felipe V. ("Dr. Lava") Lavapies, 87, of Martins Ferry, OH, and Palm Desert, CA, died Thursday, July 23, 2015, at Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, WV. He was born August 25, 1927, in Mambusao, Capiz, Philippines, the son of the late Soledad and Bienvenido Lavapies. Dr. Lavapies was a retired family physician. He graduated from University of Santo Thomas in Manila, Philippines, and arrived in Wheeling in 1954 as an intern at Wheeling Hospital. In 1958 he married Dr. Nermin Demirbag and returned to the Philippines in 1959. He came back to Wheeling in 1962, was naturalized as U. S. citizen in 1965 and established his medical practice in Tiltonsville, OH, later that year. Twice he served as president of the medical staff of Martins Ferry Hospital. He served as president of Belmont County Medical Society. He was a District Councilor and member of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, and a member of the Ohio Valley Philippine Medical Association and the Tri-State Filipino-American Association. He belonged to the American Medical Association, Ohio State Medical Association and the Belmont County Board of Water and Sewage Department. He retired in 2002. Until 2005 he derived some of his greatest joy by volunteering and contributing to medical missions to the Philippines. He also contributed to Martins Ferry Hospital, Tri-State Filipino-American Association, St. Mary's Church in Martins Ferry, OH, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palm Desert, CA. Surviving are his wife, Dr. Nermin Demirbag Lavapies, of Martins Ferry, OH; brother Pio Martinez of Ilo Ilo, Capiz, Philippines; sister Mila Bilanguit of the Philippines; son Stephen F. Lavapies, married to Monique A. Hart, of Los Angeles, CA; and his twin granddaughters, Demi Lavapies and Mina Lavapies of Los Angeles, CA; and numerous relatives in San Francisco, Los Angeles, North Carolina, Maryland and throughout the U. S. and the Philippines. Friends will be received at the Wilson Funeral Home 920 National Road Brookside on Monday July 27, 2015 from 2-8 pm with wake services to be recited at 7:30 pm at the Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 am at St. Mary's Catholic Church Martins Ferry, with Fr. Thomas Marut as Celebrant, interment in Mt. Calvary Cemetery Wheeling. Memorial contributions may be made to the Belmont County Animal Shelter 45244 National Road St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950, or St. Mary's Catholic Church 20 N. 4th St. Martins Ferry, Ohio 43935. To leave the family a condolence please visit www.wilsonfuneralhomes.com