Funeral services for Moises Villanueva, 80, of Portales will be at 10:00 AM, Fri., Jan. 20, 2017 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Raul Ornelas officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Richard Garcia, Jr., Fernie Garcia, Emilio Baca, Elias Baca, Mark Madrid and Cecilio Villanueva serving as pallbearers. All of Moises’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers. Military honors will be rendered by members of American Legion Post #31 of Portales. Following the committal at the cemetery the family will be served a meal at the Memorial Building.
Moises Villanueva was born Aug. 2, 1936 in Ramadero, NM to the home of Ramoncita (Apodaca) and Elias Villanueva and passed away peacefully at his home on Jan. 16, 2017. As a boy, he moved to Encino, where he attended school, and then in 1948 he moved to Portales where he continued his education. In 1955, Moises moved to Clovis, and enlisted in the US Army. He served both in the U.S., and in Germany before his discharge in 1958.
On Feb. 14, 1959, in Clovis, he was married to Rebecca Chavez. In 1960, he went to work at Cannon Air Force Base in the Commissary. He retired in 1987, making a total of 30 years in service to his country. Following his retirement, he became the Code Enforcement and Animal Control Officer for the City of Portales, and retired again after 8 ½ years due to his health.
Moises was very devoted to his Christian faith, and to his church family. In addition, he enjoyed his many friends at the Senior Center, going fishing and hunting, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was well known for his chili garden, and people came from far and wide to buy them each year.
He is survived by Rebecca, his wife of almost 58 years of their home; two sons, Erminio Villanueva of Hobbs and Patrick Villanueva of Portales; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Marcella and Richard Garcia of Clovis, Christine and Johnny Baca of Portales and Delores Villanueva of Clovis; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Nick Villanueva and Ernest Villanueva both of Portales and two sisters, Julia Ortega and Mary Madrid both of Portales. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Philip Villanueva and Raymond Villanueva, a sister, Carmen Villanueva, a great-grandson, Andres Lucero and an infant son, Chris Villanueva.
