Dr. Erlinda Laron De La Pena

On July 30, 2024, Dr. Erlinda Laron DeLaPena, passed away peacefully at her home in Manassas, VA. Erlinda was born in Manila, Philippines on November 26, 1933, and emigrated to the United States in 1958. She was predeceased in 2008 by her medical school classmate and husband, Dr. Cordell A. DeLaPena. She is survived by her daughter Leslie (Robert) Wheelock of Bethesda, MD; daughter Nina (Brian) Miller of Chantilly, VA; and son, Cordell (Cynthia) DeLaPena, Jr, of Redondo Beach, CA. Erlinda also leaves behind her grandson, Cordell (Lane) DeLaPena, III of Wiesbaden, Germany; grandson Cameron (Hillary) DeLaPena of Arlington, VA; granddaughter Taylor DeLaPena of Philadelphia, PA; grandson Brian Cordell Miller of Herndon, VA; and grandson Brent Miller of Chantilly, VA. Erlinda is also survived by her great-grandchildren, twins Graysen and Penelope DeLaPena of Wiesbaden, Germany. Erlinda graduated from St. Mary’s Academy high school, Manila Philippines, where she was voted Her Majesty, Erlinda I, for the Junior- Senior Day. She attended the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines graduating with a medical degree in 1957. She completed post graduate education as an Intern, St. John’s Hospital, Lowell, MA, and a Pathology Resident, Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. She then served as Pathology Chief Resident, Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Erlinda was a Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology, Anatomical and Clinical Pathology. The majority of Erlinda’s career was with the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), Clarksburg, WV where she was known as Dr. D. She served as the Chief of Laboratory and Pathology Services for 13 years, and in 1983, Erlinda was promoted to Chief of Staff, VAMC, Clarksburg, WV. At this time, she was the first Filipino American Chief of Staff in the US Veterans Administration and one of six women Chiefs of Staff in the 172 US Veterans Medical Administration Medical Centers. She served in this position until her retirement in 1999. She was a member of the US VAMC Association of Chiefs of Staff and National Association of Veteran Administration Physicians. During her tenure as the VAMC Chief of Staff, she was the Secretary to the Dean’s Committee for the VAMC Residency Program of the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine. She was also a Lifetime Member of the Institute of Federal Health Care Executives. During her clinical practice years, she held academic appointments as Clinical Professor with the WVU School of Medicine, Assistant Clinical Professor with Alderson Broaddus College, Assistant Clinical Professor with Salem College, and Instructor with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Erlinda was active in professional organizations being a Fellow of both the American Society of Clinical Pathology and College of American Pathology. She served as the first woman President of the WV Harrison County Medical Society and second woman President of the WV State Pathology Society. Nationally, she served as the President of the Association of Philippine-American Pathologists. Additionally, Erlinda was a member of the American Association of Blood Banks, American Medical Association, American Medical Women’s Association, and WV State Hematology Society. When she retired in 1999, she remained active in Clarksburg, WV by serving in the Immaculate Conception Church Serra Club fostering vocations to the ministerial priesthood in the Catholic Church and the Blue Army promoting the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. To be closer to their children, Erlinda and her husband moved to Virginia in 2006. She then became an active member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Legion of Mary with prayer and apostolic work in union with Mary. She served in Officer roles, to include President, of the Holy Trinity Church Legion of Mary Praesidia. A funeral mass will be held on September 16, 2024, 10:30 AM, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8213 Linton Hall Rd, Gainesville VA. A eulogy and reception for family and friends will take place immediately after the funeral mass in the Holy Trinity Reception Hall. Interment will follow at 2:00 PM, Stonewall Memory Gardens, 12004 Lee Hwy, Manassas, VA. In lieu of Flowers, the family requests donations, in memory of Erlinda DeLaPena, be made to the Clarksburg Mustard Seed (444 E. Pike St, Clarksburg, WV) and House of Mercy (8162 Flannery Ct, Manassas, VA). Finally, Erlinda’s family is sincerely grateful to “Kathy’s Angels” who provided gentle, loving care during and at the end of her life.

Dr. Erlinda Laron De La Pena

November 26, 1933 - July 30, 2024