Ramiro A. Villanueva

Ramiro A. Villanueva, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died peacefully surrounded by his family Wednesday, September 27, 2023, in McAllen, Texas after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 80 years old.

A family man who demonstrated an unyielding love for his wife and 4 children was born in 1943 in Kingsville, Texas, to parents Francisca and Enemencio Villanueva. Ramiro was a patriot who proudly served his country for 39 years as a firefighter, member of the Air Force during Vietnam, and with the Social Security Administration. He was a proud Javalina as a graduate from Texas A&I in Kingsville where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business.

Ramiro is mourned by his spouse, Eva G. Villanueva; his daughter Elaine Villanueva; his daughter Elisa Villanueva Beard (Jeremy); his daughter Monica Villanueva; and his son Samuel Villanueva (Sara); his sister Irene Epperson. He was the youngest of 5 children, and brother to his late siblings Roberto Villanueva, Magarita Flores, and Eva Merino.

He also leaves a legacy of 7 grandchildren (Michael Villanueva Wilson, Langston Villanueva Beard, Malcolm Villanueva Beard, Marshall Villanueva Beard, Ellison Villanueva Beard, Hazel Hawkins, and Hendrix Hawkins Villanueva) who loved and admired him dearly.

While in college he met the beautiful, creative, and entrepreneurial Eva G. Villanueva, who was a florist most of her career until she started their rental property business. They married in 1973 and enjoyed 50 years of love and life in their marriage.

Ramiro was a sports fanatic, expert chess player, avid reader, and fisherman. He thrived coaching and teaching others about his passions. He coached his children softball and basketball, as well as his nieces, and he we was even recruited by his son-in-law, Jeremy, to help him coach middle school basketball during his retirement. He is known as the uncle who taught anyone who was willing to learn how to play chess, and did so always with incredible kindness, humor, and patience. You were guaranteed to find him reading the newspaper early mornings and, in the evening. He was a frequent visitor of the local library, and you were sure to find him reading a book any time he had a free moment; his love of reading lives on with his children. And for anyone who ever got to go on a fishing adventure with Ramiro, you could count on an experience filled with laughter, wonderful story telling, and maybe some fish.

A generous, kind, fun, and caring soul is how Ramiro will be remembered. He always made everyone he encountered feel welcomed and cared for. He was a jokester at heart, and it was impossible to not get a good laugh any time you were around him. He was an extraordinary man that lived with the utmost integrity. The life of Ramiro is an example of a life well lived and a man well loved.

A visitation for Ramiro will be held Friday, September 29, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel, Mission, TX. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel in Mission, TX followed by a burial at 1:00 PM at Valley Memorial Gardens, Mission, TX.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.funerariadelangelmission.com for the Villanueva family.