Dr. Ruben "Ben" Eugenio Montoya

Dr. Ruben “Ben” Eugenio Montoya peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on February 22, 2026, at the age of 80. Ben was born April 9, 1945, to schoolteachers, Cecilia and Quiterio Montoya in Santiago, Isabela, Philippines. He received his medical degree at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and came to the United States in 1973. He married Ophelia Conception Savella in spring of 1974.

In his own words…

“With forty dollars in my pocket and a “Fly Now/ Pay Later” airline ticket in hand, I boarded a Northwest Airlines plane bound for the United States in July of 1973. I accepted an internship at Northeastern Hospital in Philadelphia. That flight was filled with excitement and anticipation at the thought of finally seeing my girlfriend who left three years earlier to be with her family. Towards the end of my internship, I flew to Vancouver, Canada to marry my best friend.

Ophie and I were blessed with two boys while in anesthesia residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan. Our third son came along after moving to Jeffersonville, Indiana to join a group of three anesthesiologists.

I retired after almost forty years from that same group, having grown to thirteen doctors, including my oldest son, Oliver. Those ten years working side by side with him was filled with pride and joy. Once Oliver joined, I handed the baton over to him, including the task of signing my paychecks. Our youngest son, Ruben (JR), also followed in our footsteps as an anesthesiologist in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our middle son, Benjamin, earned his degree in architecture from Ball State University and is fulfilling his passion of teaching and performing music in Seattle, Washington.

We are proud grandparents of four (*now five) wonderful children who we adore. Evangeline, Lucien, Linnea, Emerson (and Xavi) who we enjoy babysitting every now and then. They all love their Nana and Dada; although they fault us for not being home enough since we are often traveling… Ever since our retirement, we committed ourselves to giving back by joining medical surgical missions in our native land…. This we, explain to our grandchildren, is the reason we are often gone.

Life has been good. We have been blessed with a wonderful family and a great circle of friends. We have these and more and we owe them ALL to our almighty God.“

Ben was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He enjoyed travel, entertaining at the house and fine dining. He was a fan of horse racing, boxing, and University of Louisville basketball. He was an avid gardener, growing roses and vegetables, including some familiar to home in the Philippines, for his family and friends.

Ben is survived by his loving wife, Ophelia; his sons Oliver (Janice Javier Montoya), Benjamin “BJ” (Jennifer Tawatao Montoya), Ruben II “JR” (Megan Hill); his sister Leticia Reconsal; his nephew Joel Reconsal (Franenicia Lontoc Reconsal) and niece Lizel Reconsal and his grandchildren, Evangeline, Lucien, Linnea Joy, Emerson, and Xavier.

Visitation honoring his life and legacy will be at Scott Funeral Home, 2515 Veterans Parkway in Jeffersonville, Indiana on Sunday, March 8, from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony’s of Padua Catholic Church, 316 N Sherwood Avenue in Clarksville, Indiana on Monday, March 9 at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the San Lorenzo Ruiz & William L. Fichteman Scholarship Fund through the Catholic Education Foundation. https://ceflou.org/endowment/san-lorenzo-ruiz-rev-william-l-fichteman-scholarship-fund

Rosary for Ruben Eugenio Montoya 

Sunday, March 8 at 7:00 PM

In-Person: Scott Funeral Home

By Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82296301787?pwd=SlqBQhnTPaeapJm5wn5UuSMSpll93z.1

Meeting ID: 822 9630 1787
Passcode: 124757

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