Villanueva

Martin Rivera Villanueva, Sr. was born to Porfirio and Dolores (Rivera) Villanueva on Jan. 30, 1943 in Flatonia.

Martin passed away on Dec. 31, 2025 in La Grange at the age of 82.

He met Juanita (Janie) Garcia Lopez in 1960 and together they started a family that would become his pride and joy. Although Martin and Janie lived apart for many years, they were united in the love they shared for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

What Martin lacked in education, he made up with common sense and hard work. He, along with his parents and siblings, would travel as migrant farmers working the fields that were in season. Later he would go on to work as a tire repairman at Goodyear Tire in La Grange. For several years he drove a Peterbilt for an oil company. He worked as a property manager until becoming semi-retired, at which time he did odd jobs that included: fence repairs, mowing fields and lawns, weed eating, and minor home repairs.

He spent his mornings drinking his coffee while listening to the Trading Post and Country Store on the radio in hopes of hearing about an item that was too good of a deal to pass up. His afternoons were spent watching the judges on TV. If there wasn’t a ball game on television, he would watch the old westerns. Sometimes he would just sit and visit with his children or grandchildren and sing along to a favorite song he heard playing.

He had an uncanny knack of coming up with nicknames for everyone. He could also come up with one-liners that would not make any sense to anyone else but always seemed to fit the occasion perfectly. He remained active with work until a couple of months before his death. For him, his children and grandchildren were his life. He was at home in peace when he took his final breath.

Martin is survived by Juanita (Janie) Garcia Lopez; daughter, Linda and husband James Polasek of Ellinger; son, Ricky and wife Tina of La Grange; daughter, Grace Villanueva of La Grange; son, Mark and wife Melissa of Arlington; son, Valentine and wife Jennifer; daughter, Rachel Villanueva; son, Martin Jr. and wife Perla; son, Jason Villanueva; daughter, Crystal and husband Rodo Tovar, all also from La Grange; Travis Lopez of Hondo; 38 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren with two more expected in March; sisters, Teodora Tobar of La Grange, Ascension and Francisco Morales of La Grange, Juanita (Janie) and George Herrera of Smithville; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; son, John Martin; stepson, Joe G. Lopez; grandson, Xavier Villanueva; brother, Fidencio Villanueva; sisters, Bonifacia Perez, Julia Garcia, Catarina Mireles, Petra Quintero, and Frances Quintero.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 at Fayette Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in La Grange from 2-7 p.m. Family will be present from 5-7 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 at Fayette Memorial Funeral Home in La Grange from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Interment will follow in the La Grange City Cemetery.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are James Polasek, Mark Villanueva, Chris Villanueva, Joe Villanueva, Rodo Tovar and Martin Villanueva, Jr.

Memorials can be made to a charity of choice.

Please visit www.fayette-memorialfuneralhome. com to share memories and leave your condolences for the family.

Services are under the Care and Direction of Fayette Memorial Funeral Home of La Grange.