Erlinda "Linda" Punsalan

Erlinda “Linda” Punsalan, 77, of Conroe, died Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston. She was born July 1, 1943, in Lipa Batangas, Philippines, to Leonora Talag Roxas and Pedro Manalo Roxas.

Linda graduated from the University of Santo Thomas, Philippines in 1968 with a Doctorate of Medicine. After she passed the medical entrance exam, she moved with her husband to the United States. Her first appointment was at Grant Hospital, Chicago, where she eventually continued to specialize in pediatrics.

In 1980, she and her family moved to Texas. After a brief stay in Denton, they relocated to Port Arthur where she and her husband opened The Children’s Clinic on 9th Avenue. Linda served as a pediatrician to the Golden Triangle for over thirty years at The Children’s Clinic.

In the early 1990’s, she assisted in establishing a weekly Catholic Bible study in her home with the help of other Filipino community members. Linda’s faith, love, and service to Christ was paramount. The prayer group, which has now been established for over thirty years, continues to meet to this day to be a source of faith, strength, and fellowship to its members.

In 2003, Linda began her volunteer work with a Catholic ministry called Gawad Kalinga (translated in English – “To Give Care”) which helps build homes for the poorest of the poor in various areas of the Philippines. In 2005, she was named the Southwest USA Regional Director of Gawad Kalinga, during which time she and the other Gawad Kalinga members from Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma raised over one million dollars to build homes for the poor.

Linda was also a member of the Medical Surgical Mission of Texas which traveled to the Philippines annually to give free medical care and surgeries to patients in need. More recently, in the past four years, she worked with Dr. Jim Sanchez in his ministry, Hospital on Wheels, in the Philippines which also gives free medical care to the less fortunate.

Linda retired from full-time practice in 2012. Since then, she has enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and friends, as well as, traveling. She enjoyed visiting the Holy Land twice and went on several pilgrimages.

Survivors include her husband, Philip Punsalan, of Conroe; children, Leonora Tricia Punsalan and husband, Jon Hung Mai, of Conroe and David Troy Punsalan and wife, Mini Zhang, of Lake Oswego, Oregon; grandchildren, Christian Samuel Mai and Conor, Ocean, and Ethan Punsalan; siblings; Oscar Roxas; Perlita Depakakibo; Chona Reyes; Carmencita Roxas; and Cora Nielson; and numerous extended family members.

She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Rose Roxas.

A Rosary will be recited at 5:00 p.m., with a gathering of Mrs. Punsalan’s family and friends to follow until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 21, 2021, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 22, 2021, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 211 Hardy Avenue, Nederland. Her committal will be held at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospital on Wheels, RP Healthcraft Carrier Foundation Inc., c/o Dr. Juan “Jim” Sanchez, Room 402, Pacific Century Tower, 1472 Quezon Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City 1103, Philippines.

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