Dr. J. Lingkod Paras

Dr. J. Lingkod Paras, age 87 of Batesville, died Sunday, May 8, 2011 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Born December 4, 1923 in Manila, Philippines, he is the son of Solidad (Nee: Juane) and Mariano Paras Sr. He married Gloria Dowler December 13, 1956 in Richmond, Indiana. A doctor for 39 years, he spent 38 years in practice at Batesville before retiring in 2000. He served as Chief of Staff two years at Margaret Mary Hospital. Nearly 3000 Batesville residents will remember him as the doctor who delivered them. Many others will remember him making house calls or trading services for payment if they could not afford to pay. He was a member of St. Louis Church and the Indiana Philippine Medical Association.Dr. Paras enjoyed two passions. The first was time spent with his grandsons doing or playing whatever they wanted. The second was boxing. He loved watching boxing and was fiercely proud of fighters from his homeland. A gifted person, he was a natural artist and carpenter and at one time had wanted to become an architect. An avid dancer, he liked dancing the tango and rumba. Dr. Paras was a dapper dresser. With his silver hair, the nurses at the hospital nicknamed him the “silver fox.” In his younger years he was almost unbeatable in ping pong and enjoyed playing Mah Jong which he taught to several of his friends. A fan of the big screen and small screen alike, his favorites included old movies from the 40’s and 50’s, Dancing With the Stars not surprisingly and Everybody Loves Raymond. He also had a love of cars, especially elegant cars. Perhaps his favorite was a 1964 Buick Riviera he purchased new, is still in the family and highly collectable today. According to his family he was an excellent cook and well known for his Adobo. Dr. Paras and Gloria were able to travel extensively and count trips to Geneva Switzerland and South America among their favorites.He is survived by his wife Gloria; daughters Felecia Krakowka of Columbus, Ohio, Teresita Romweber of Metamora, Indiana, Maria Corazon-Paras of Chicago, Illinois; son Pepe Paras of New York City and grandchildren Joseph Romweber, Bill Romweber and Isaac Krakowka. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by sister Corazon Paras and brothers Honrado, Honesto, Rueban and Mariano Paras Jr.Visitation is Wednesday, May 11th from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home with a rosary service at 3:45 p.m. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Thursday, May 12th, at St. Louis Church with Rev. Stephen Akange officiating and burial will be in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to the American Heart Association.

Dr. J. Lingkod Paras

May 8, 1924 - May 8, 2011