Sunrise: February 5, 1936
Sunset: May 28, 2016

Hector Romero Doctor died in Marysville, WA, on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at the age of 80 years old. He was born in Burgos, Pangasinan, Philippines on Wednesday, February 5, 1936 to Carmelo and Carmen Doctor.

One of nine children, he decided to enroll in college right after high school. It was while he was studying for his degree in Business Management that he decided to apply for the United States Navy with a close friend. After he was accepted, he left Subic Bay, Philippines to attend basic training in San Diego, CA in 1960.

His first duty station was in Hawaii aboard two destroyer ships named USS Wilhoite (DER-397) and USS William V. Pratt (DLG-13). Before reporting to his next duty station, he went home on leave briefly to the Philippines to marry the love of his life, Maria Consuelo Rosete on March 29, 1964. In 1965, they traveled to Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA for his next duty station. He was attached to Squadron VA-94 as a Mess Specialist steward and cook for the pilots. He later deployed to Naval Air Station Fallon, NV before being stationed on the carriers: USS Constellation (CV-64), USS Bonhomme Richard (CV-31), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), and USS Nimitz (CVN-68). After six years, he was assigned to Naval Air Station Alameda, CA. In 1972, he was assigned to Quonset Point, Rhode Island. From 1973-1974 he was transferred to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL. Hector later got stationed aboard another destroyer ship located in Charleston, South Carolina in 1975-1976. During the years of 1977-1978, his ship was dry-docked in Bremerton, WA to undergo maintenance, it was there he experienced life in the Pacific Northwest for the first time. He would later be stationed at the Naval Base in Bremerton, WA before transferring to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, WA and serving in the Commissary as a merchandise stocker. The Doctor Family decided to stay on Whidbey Island, making it their permanent home.

After 20 years of honorable and faithful service to the United States Navy, he retired in 1980. He would later enter into Federal Civil Service, where he would retire for a second time, in the year 2000, after serving 20 years.

Hector loved boating, fishing, crabbing, clamming, and shrimping. He also enjoyed watching horse races, playing bingo, and the slot machines at the casinos. He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus John E. O’Brien Council 3361, and the Fil-Am Association of Oak Harbor.

Hector is lovingly survived by his wife of 52 years, Maria Consuelo Doctor, his children Eugene (Dorothy) Doctor of Spanaway, WA, Marynelsa Doctor of Seattle, WA, Arlene (Cobey) Pete of Camp Lejeune, NC, grandchildren, Joanne Pedroza, Jessica and Janine Doctor, Renee Banks, Kyarah and Karyssa Pete. He is also survived by his siblings: Wilfreda Español, Adelina Manzano, Perla Naval, Jose “Pepe” Doctor of Burgos, Pangasinan, Fidela Rivera of Vallejo, CA, Maria Robertson of Vallejo, CA and numerous nieces and nephews.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hector Romero Doctor, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Affiliations