Jose R. Samson, M.D.

Dr. Jose Real Samson, age 72, of Dover, died unexpectedly early Sunday evening, January 11, 2009, in Union Hospital at Dover. Best known as “Dr. Joe” to his patients and the medical community, he was active in his practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the time of his death. Dr. Joe is credited with the delivery of more than six thousand infants during his thirty-two years of practice in the Tuscarawas Valley.Born June 22, 1936, at Tanjay, Negros Oriental, Philippines, he was the first born of three children born to the late Jose Zerna Samson and Catalina Cafe Real Samson. Jose attended Santo Tomas University College of Medicine at Manila, Philippines, and worked for the Bureau of Education, traveling to remote villages to promote wellness and basic medical care. In 1968, he moved to Los Angeles, California, to continue his medical training. In 1972, he relocated to Canton, Ohio, where he served his residency at Aultman Hospital and where he began his specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Samson became a naturalized citizen in 1973, and following his residency, decided to settle in Dover, where he opened his OB/GYN practice, and earned surgical and delivery privileges at Union Hospital. Anyone who knew Dr. Samson is well aware of his passion for patient care. This same passion drove him to excellence in many areas of his life. He was an accomplished pianist, who, after hearing a song just once, could usually repeat every note. When not involved in patient care, or at a keyboard, Jose could be found bowling, playing tennis, and most recently, engaging in a good game of poker. Despite these pleasure pursuits, he was never far from a telephone, and never allowed it to ring more than once, lest an emergency or delivery patient require his care. His memberships, too numerous to mention in their entirety, include St. Joseph Catholic Church, The American Medical Association, and the Tuscarawas Medical Association, the United States Tennis Association, and the Republican Party. Dr. Samson will be dearly missed by many colleagues in the medical community, his patients, and his friends from the local Filipino community, but especially by his daughters; Chona Samson Kinsey and her husband Matthew, of Dover, and Sheila Samson-Witt and husband Chris, also of Dover. He leaves behind his grandchildren; Kyle and Scott Kinsey, and Nathan Joseph Kinsey, and Ashley Witt and Palmer Samson Witt and Aidan Allen Witt. Alsongside Jose when he immigrated to the United States, and during his residency, was his former wife, Dolly Samson of Dover. They remained close friends, and co-workers in his medical practice.His family also includes two sisters, Aida Real Samson of Detroit, Michigan, and Lorna S. Espinas and husband Dennis, of Dover. A niece, Tania Espinas, and two nephews, Dino and Sebastian Espinas, complete the family. Friends are invited to call Friday, from 1-4 and 6-9 PM in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where Dr. Samson’s family will receive friends, and gather together to celebrate his great accomplishments in life. Food, fellowship and a few poker tables will be on hand. Father William Arnold will celebrate Mass of Christian Burial Saturday morning at 10:30 in St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Dover Burial Park. Following the committal service, a reception will be given in the Geib Center, adjacent to the burial park. The family requests that memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation 5005 LBJ Freeway Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244, or to the Food Pantry Fund at St. Joseph Parrish 613 North Tuscarawas Avenue, Dover, OH 44622. Geib Funeral Center at Dover(330) 343-5506www.geibcares.com