Arnoldo L. Villarreal

Arnoldo L. Villarreal, a resident of Brownsville, Texas for over 50 years entered into eternal rest on May 13, 2016 at the age of 84.

He was born in San Benito on December 9, 1931. After graduating from San Benito High School in 1950, he joined the Army and served his country as a corporal with the 67th AAA Gun battalion stationed in Germany as a NATO occupation force during the Korean War. Upon returning home from military duty, he married Gloria Oralia Cantu in 1954 and, with his brother Humberto, founded Villarreal Butane in San Benito. While living in San Benito he was a charter member and officer with the San Benito Jaycees and a member of the Kiwanis. Together with their 4 children, he and Oralia moved to Brownsville in 1965 where he founded Villarreal Furniture, which he operated in partnership with his wife for over 50 years. His two sons, upon each graduating from college, joined the family business and together founded Rio Loan which they operated in Brownsville, San Benito, Weslaco and Mission. Throughout his years in business, he was also actively involved in various commercial real estate transactions.

Arnoldo served as an officer of Mr. Amigo Association, the Brownsville Kiwanis Club, Sembradores Club, and as commissioner of the Brownsville Housing Authority which during his tenure oversaw the construction of Villa Del Sol in downtown Brownsville.

One of Arnoldo's passions included traveling with Oralia throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. With an adventurous spirit, he especially enjoyed traveling to the more exotic locations of Tibet, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam as well as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall of China. Equally enjoyable were the wonderful times he spent with his children and grandchildren whether traveling together or simply entertaining large gatherings of family and friends as each occasion was marked with much laughter and joy.

As a savvy businessman, Arnoldo was sought after for his wise counsel. He will always be remembered for his leadership, his integrity, his gregarious nature, his quick wit, his kindness and his unfledging devotion to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by his children and grandchildren for his guidance, his generosity, his humor and his love and equally missed by the many friends and relatives whose lives he touched.

He was predeceased in death by his parents Jose S. Villarreal and Manuela Leal Villarreal as well as brothers Jose Armando and Humberto and sisters Delia, Eudelia and Nina.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Gloria Oralia and his four children Arnold, Carlos, Ada (Ben) Beall and Ana (Craig) Worthington and grandchildren Camden and Phillip Worthington, Katherine and Thomas Beall and great-granddaughter Elyse Worthington, his sisters Juanita V. Cantu, Beatrice V. Thompson, Maria Cristina V. Wyatt as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Danilo K. Assase, Dr. Diana H. Lozano and Dr. Laura Cisneros. In addition, the family wishes to acknowledge Calidad Home Health Care with a special thanks to Carlos Lape, Selena Parra and Debra Barocio for their dedicated care.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 2016 with the recitation of the holy rosary at 7:00 p.m. in the East Chapel at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The family requests everybody meet at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. for the Mass of Resurrection. Entombment will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito.

Honored to be serving as Mr. Villarreal's pallbearers are Camden Worthington, Phillip Worthington, Thomas Beall, Alejandro Garcia, Dr. Rick Villarreal, and Tomas Cantu.

Visitation

Darling-Mouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Boulevard
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, May 15, 2016
1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Service

Rosary

Darling-Mouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Boulevard
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, May 15, 2016
7:00 p.m.

Mass of Resurrection

St. Mary Mother of the Church
1914 Barnard Road
Brownsville, TX  78520
Monday, May 16, 2016
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Mont Meta Memorial Park
26170 State Hwy 343
San Benito, TX  78586