Dr. Angel De La Iglesia

Angel was born in the small village of Amralleda, Spain, fifteen miles from Leon on August 22, 1921. He began his education at the Brothers Christian School in Astorga, Spain. Then he studied in Santiago de la Compostela where he finished his first two years of medical school. Angel then transferred to Madrid, where he finished his medical training in 1946. Following this, he practiced medicine in the small villages of the mountains of Leon for eight years, traveling mostly on his bicycle. During this time, he decided to devote his medical career to bringing new life into the world as an Ob/Gyn. While reading a Journal of the American Medical Association, he noticed that they needed a doctor with Ob/Gyn experience at Nashville General Hospital. He applied and was accepted to this program, entering the United States on December 28, 1955 at the age of 34. After fifteen months training and working in Nashville, he transferred to Houston to work on an Ob/Gyn residency at St. Joseph and St. Luke hospitals. He also trained for a year at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

While completing his Ob/Gyn residency, he started to build his home in Leon in order to return to Spain; however, his plans changed when he met Ruth Coleman, M.D. during an operation where she was an anesthesiologist. Ruth and Angel were married in December 28, 1957 at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Houston. Children Kim Angel, Miriam, and Gregory Coleman were born to Angel and Ruth. Angel started an Ob/Gyn practice on the north side of Houston. During the next 40 years Angel delivered 6000 babies. Angel also founded the Houston-Huelva Society, the first sister city alliance formed solely on the basis of friendship. He reluctantly retired his practice, but not his passion for medicine and healing and caring for his patients, on December 31, 1999 at the age of 78, due to the diagnosis of Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphona .

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m., August, 13, 2011, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston (713-621-4370).

He will be buried at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery by the side of his beloved wife, Ruth, of 48 years. Angel is preceded in death by his parents Gregorio de la Iglesia and Adela Fernandez de la Iglesia and one sister Gregoria de la Iglesia Fernandez, all of Madrid. He is survived by his brother Manuel, and sisters Antonia and Michaela and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces in Spain and by son Kim and his wife Jana, daughter Miriam, son Greg and his wife Sandy. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Ryan and Ben Iglesia of Fort Worth and Gregory, Christopher, Thomas and Isabella Iglesia of San Marcos. He also leaves behind many dear close friends and colleagues, including especially Frank and Donna Sralla and family.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society, The Lymphoma Research Foundation, St. Joe's Foundation (founded by the late Dr. Joseph Lucci), or the charity of your choice.