Dr. Jose H. Vidal M.D.

Dr. Jose H. Vidal M.D., 99 years old, went on to be with his LORD and Savior on 1-12-2024. He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on 12-19-1924. He was the 4th child in a family of 5 (four boys and one girl). In his younger years in high school and college, Jose was extremely athletic in pole vaulting, basketball, and baseball, even setting records in Puerto Rico. He was such a talented basketball player, that in 1945 he played 1 year as a starter for the St Louis University Billikens. He was known as the Puerto Rican sharpshooter. He attended the University of Arkansas Medical School, graduating in 1949. He later married Phyllis Coleman Vidal, whom he met in Kent, England, while serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force. After about a year of long-distance correspondence, they were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 15, 1952, where he finished his residency for ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota. In December of 1955, they moved their little family with 2 children to Ponce, Puerto Rico where all his family resided. In January of 1962, they relocated with 4 children to Las Vegas, NV, where their last daughter was born. Dr. Vidal became one of the first bilingual ophthalmologists in Las Vegas. Many of his patients were Spanish speaking and many kept in touch years after he retired. After 49 dedicated, hard working years as a doctor, he finally retired in 2001 at the age of 76. Jose and Phyllis were married for 53 years until her death on May 26, 2005. They were loving parents to 5 children: Rebecca Josett, Mary Beth Wong, Joe Vidal, Deborah Vidal, and Tina Conahey. They were beloved grandparents to 7 grandchildren: Zach Josett, Nicole and Rocky Wong, Dr. Evan and Grant Vidal, and Max and Cade Conahey. He is also survived by 2 very close nieces: Anne Reeves and her husband Mamoru Shimokochi and Murgie Lewis. Dr. Vidal will be remembered dearly by those who knew him, as an extremely dedicated & compassionate physician who cared greatly about his patients, even making house calls in the old days, and extra hospital visits when he was concerned about their condition and well being. He always had a heart for caring and helping the poor. He would have made a great missionary doctor. He enjoyed dabbling in carpentry, boating, and had many trophies for his shooting skills. His surviving family will miss him terribly. He was a very loving and generous father, who took great care of his wife for years before she passed. He truly demonstrated to all of his children, the loyalty and commitment of a husband who vowed to love his wife" in sickness and in health, until death do they part.” He always told everyone that his favorite song was “Unforgettable” in memory of his loving wife. Finally they are reunited in heaven, after 18 years of being apart. God blessed us all for having known him! Memories of Dr. Vidal can be shared on his memorial www.PalmEastern.com

Services will be held privately.