Dr. Llewelyn Navarra Hortillosa, 83, passed away suddenly, Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY. He was the son of Provincial Commander Cirilio and Felicidad Navarra Hortillosa, who preceded him in death. As the son of a military officer, he traveled around the islands and could speak every dialect. Although he was very modest about it, he also spoke several languages, such as Italian, Spanish, German, Latin and others.
Dr. Hortillosa was a popular and well-known psychiatrist in this area for many years. Born in the Philippines he was affectionately known by most as “Dr. Lew.” Always ready with a joke or a “Howdy Partner,” he was loved and respected by all who knew him. To quote one of his former patients. “This man will make you feel better no matter how bad you feel.”
As a young man, he spent his teenage years in the seminary to become a priest. Before taking his final vows, he decided to leave and pursue medicine. He graduated medical school at the University of Santo Tomas in 1970 and began family practice in the Philippines. He came to the United States in 1972 where he did family practice in Rome, Georgia and Yale, Oklahoma. In 1990 he began his psychiatry residency at the University of Louisville and graduated in 1993, where he was named the philosopher of the class.
After graduation he worked for the VA hospital in Louisville and served as medical director for the PTSD unit. In 1994 he was employed by Westlake Regional Hospital in Columbia and was contracted to work for Adanta as well. Over the years he worked in all the counties for the Adanta clinics at one time or another. He later became solely employed by Adanta and served as the medical director at one time. In January 2011, he opened Heartland Psychiatry in Campbellsville, KY. In 2016, he decided to close the practice and semi-retire. In his semi-retirement he began telepsychiatry for the Pennyroyal Center in Hopkinsville, where he continued up until the day of his death.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Lynna Loarca and Linda Jornada.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Donita Loy-Hortillosa; four sons and one daughter, Jonathan Hortillosa and his wife Sara, Toronto, Canada, Jerry Hortillosa and Jason Hortillosa both of Harrogate, Tennessee, Jeffrey Hortillosa and his wife Hannah of Austin, Texas and Joanna Hortillosa of Cincinnati, Ohio; two stepchildren, JR Murphy and his wife Judy of Columbia, KY, and Candi Murphy and her husband Randy of Munfordville, KY; twelve grandchildren, Sofia and Nathaniel Hortillosa, Tristan (Shelby), Laramie, Baylee, Ella, and Troy Murphy, Charlize O’Dell, Courtney, Kaylee and Chloe Vance, and Hannah (Lucas) Mercado; two great grandchildren Elias and Lilah Murphy; two sisters Lynette Eusebio and Lilafe Sabandal both of the Philippines and several nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be at 12:00 p.m. central time Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Campbellsville, KY. Visitation will continue Thursday morning until 11:00 am at Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home.
Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
