Obituary Archive

DEACON ARTURO L. VILLARREAL
ABRAM — Arturo L. Villarreal, 84, passed away Friday, Dec. 29, 2000, at McAllen Medical Center.
He was born on Jan. 31, 1916, to Juanita Villarreal Longoria and Emilio Villarreal. He was born and raised in Ojo de Agua – Abram, Texas.
He graduated from La Joya High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Masters in Education from Texas A & I in Kingsville. He taught veterans in Zapata in his first years as a educator, and returned to his alma mater to teach agriculture. He taught high school agriculture for 35 years. He always said that the highlight of his life was bringing his students to their full potential. He took over 100 Future Farmers teams to District and State competition, bringing many honors to the school.
Mr. Villarreal served in World War II as a staff sergeant. He received a purple heart with two clusters and various other honors. He fought in Africa and went through the European theater.
He organized a Boy Scout group in Abram and served as the group’s Scout Master.
On May 17, 1980, he was ordained to the sacred order of the Diaconate for the Diocese of Brownsville. He served his religious community for many years in Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish. He also served the communities of Madero and Granjeno. He served as chaplain for the Mission Hospital for 7 years.
He was instrumental in building both of the Catholic churches in Abram. The first church was built in 1939 with the efforts of the San Jose Mens Club of which he served as president. For the second church, he organized the parishioners and petitioned the bishop for the church.
Mr. Villarreal served the elderly of the community as a Silver Hair legislator, and traveled to Austin to help promote legislation that would serve the needs of the elderly. He secured an old school building and with local support built the community center that currently serves the community.
His dedication to working with the young people remains his legacy. He was a scoutmaster, a 4H leader, a youth group leader, and a catechist. The La Joya School District paid tribute to his dedication to education by naming an Elementary School in his honor.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Emilia Villarreal Garcia; three children, Elva Yolanda Morado of Rio Grande City, Aurora Guerra and Rene Villarreal of Abram; four grandchildren, Melissa Ann Scrivner, Eloy Guerra, Omar Villarreal and Roman Arturo Morado III; three brothers, Elizandro Villarreal, Raul Villarreal and Amadeo Villarreal; many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. today, Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at Flores Funeral Home at 219 S. Mayberry in Mission, with a Rosary being said at 7 p.m., at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Abram.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001, at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Abram Cemetery, with Bishop, Reynaldo Pena of Diocese of Brownsville officiating.