Mr. Saturnino R. Villegas, 100, of Avondale, Arizona died March 10 2022 in Goodyear, Arizona. He was born March 6, 1922 in Deming, New Mexico to José Villegas and Rafaela Rios Villegas. He was preceded in death by his parents José and Rafaela, seven siblings, his infant son Adrian, first wife Gloria C. Villegas, second wife Nellie C. Villegas, and grandson Levi D. Hernandez.
Nino was the sixth child of eight. He dropped out of school in the 7th grade to help support is family. At 19, he moved with his family to Oxnard, California. Inducted into the army at 20 years old, he proudly served his country for 4 years. He married his beautiful bride, Gloria Candelaria, in 1950. They lost their first son, Adrian, at birth. They moved to Arizona in 1958 with three children. Gloria died in 1965. Nino worked for the V.A. until he retired in 1979. He moved his children to California in 1967, where a few months later, he met his second wife, Nellie Castañon. They settled in Sylmar, California. After Nellie’s death in 2014, Nino went to live with his daughter, Rachel, and her husband, Paul. He lived with them from 2018 until his death. Nino celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Nino is survived by his daughter, Rachel V. Hernandez and sons, Ruben S. Villegas and Richard P. Villegas. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Gloria Halliburton, Christina Bilbo, Kevin Hernandez, Linnea Gilbar, Kelly Iuculano, and Allison Villegas; and ten great-grandchildren: Christian, Trinity, Ysabella, Anaiyah, Cora, Acelynn, Grey, Noah, Soleil, and Alma.
A visitation and reading of the Holy Rosary will be held at Thompson Funeral Chapel 1pm, Saturday, April 2, 2022. Burial will be at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, California.
A visitation and memorial service will be held Saturday, April 2 at 1pm at Thompson Funeral Chapel.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.3