Santos Villarreal

Santos Lopez Villarreal, 96, of Uvalde died on June 22, 2025, at the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville.

Graveside service are set at 10:30 a.m. July 10 at Shelter 5 at Fort Sam National Cemetery, where she will be interred alongside her husband.

She was born on Nov. 1, 1928, in Uvalde to Anita (Flores) and Julian Lopez.

She graduated from Uvalde High School in 1949 and resided in Uvalde her entire life, except for the last three years while she was in nursing home care at the Frank M. Tejeda TSVH in Floresville.

She married Alonzo De Leon Villarreal on Sept. 10, 1950, and they were married for nearly 75 years until his death on May 24, 2025. Known to her friends and family as Santitos, Titos and Sandy, she had enormous pride in Mexican art and culture, her heritage, and dancing to Tejano music. She and her husband enjoyed hunting, and she delighted in the company of their many dogs over the years.

Her late husband was an electrician and electrical contractor, and she maintained the financial records of the business and administrative duties. She was also an active member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 479 Tomas Valle, and her husband was twice commander of American Legion Post 479. She loved to buy antique and vintage furniture and refurbish and resell them, leading her to operate her own antique shop for several years. The couple also owned a grocery store that they later sold. The family described her as a devoted Catholic who collected Catholic icons such as La Virgen de Guadalupe. She loved to sew and make quilts.

She and her husband were strong supporters of education which led their son to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees at prestigious universities in Texas.

She is survived by her son, Alonzo Villarreal Jr. of San Antonio; two granddaughters, Virjinia Maria Villarreal Cortez and husband, Richard, and Carolina Ester Villarreal Cortez and husband, Martin; great-granddaughter, Sofia Villarreal; great-grandson, Andrew Cortez; sister, Modesta Lopez Valenzuela of Uvalde; two nephews, Claudio Valenzuela and wife, Elsa, of Uvalde and Oscar Valenzuela and wife, Berta “Bertie,” of Italy; and four nieces, Belinda Valenzuela and Elena Valenzuela, both of Uvalde, and Maria Dolores Roberts and husband, J.J., and Anita Esparza and husband, Rafael, all of San Antonio.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Julian Lopez.