Anthony Villarreal

Anthony Villarreal, aged 93, of Allen Park, passed away on January 23, 2024. Born on October 31, 1930, in Orange Grove, Texas, Anthony Villarreal was the third eldest of ten children of Teodoro and Loreta Villarreal. In his youth, Tony and his family relocated to Ohio, where his father had acquired a small farm near Toledo. Tony spent his youth assisting his family laboring as a farm hand. This is where at a very early age Tony learned to drive trucks and tractors.

In pursuit of higher dreams and expectations, Tony left home at the age of 15 and headed north to Michigan. He settled in Detroit, initially residing at the YMCA and later renting a flat above a shop for $5 a week, which also covered laundry services! During his late teens, Tony managed to sustain himself by utilizing his acquired skills in driving delivery trucks and by becoming a member of the National Guard.

On May 12, 1950, Tony attended the Holy Redeemer High School Junior-Senior Prom where his name was written on the dance card of Maria (Mary) Natalina Ferraiuolo, securing the first and sixth dances with her. Three years later, he married Mary, the love of his life, on February 7, 1953 at Holy Redeemer Church in Detroit, MI. The couple resided in Detroit and then finally to their current home in Allen Park, MI.

Together Tony and Mary went on to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ with seven children: Anthony (Joclyn), Debbie (the late Ron) Marshall, Thomas (Darlene), Florence (Anthony) Visintainer, Neil (Nancy), Laura (Charles) De Biasi, and Keith (Agnes), and his 27 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Tony transferred to the U.S. Army, and his unit was assigned to deploy to Korea. During his two-year service in Korea, he held the rank of Sergeant and served as a Truck Master. In this role, he was tasked with leading convoys on missions lasting from two days to two months. Throughout his time in Korea, Tony had the loyal companionship of his faithful German Shepherd, Rex, who held a special place in Tony's heart.

During his service, Tony honed his skills and became an excellent marksman. In November of this past year, he visited the range, indulging in a breakfast buffet before showcasing that he still possessed his sharpshooting abilities after all these years.

Following his military service, Tony started his own trucking company. However, due to a significant decline in domestic demand after the war, Tony faced challenges, leading him to eventually sell his truck. Subsequently, he joined Consolidated Freightways (CF) and dedicated 23 years to the company. Tony's exceptional driving skills included over 2,000,000 accident-free miles, earning him recognition from CF for this remarkable achievement.

In retirement, Tony found joy in spending quality time with his family, indulging in his daily nap accompanied by a cowboy movie, and occasionally visiting the casino with his wife. He took pleasure in sharing stories with his grandchildren about his time in Korea and on the road. There was always a new story or adventure to be shared.

In his post-retirement years, Tony dedicated over 28 years of driving emergency deliveries for his son's audio visual business. His routes took him all over, making him a familiar face in every theater in metro-Detroit, including Cobo, Pine Knob, The Fox, The Fillmore, and Meadow Brook. Known affectionately as Papa V, Tony became a recognized figure in the local entertainment scene.

Tony had a deep appreciation for food, especially relishing the home-cooked meals prepared by Mary. Her soup held a special place in his heart, and he found it so delectable that he happily indulged in it every day. Additionally, Tony enjoyed the occasional shot of whiskey or tequila.

Tony maintained a healthy lifestyle, engaging in regular exercise. Unbeknownst to him, he had been incorporating yoga moves into his routine for decades. Even into his 80s, Tony remained an active hunter, and at the age of 90, he proudly trailered his granddaughter's motorcycle to college. His zest for life and adventurous spirit shone through in every aspect of his remarkable journey.

Tony cherished social gatherings, with a particular fondness for celebrating his own birthday. From January 1st onward, he would eagerly announce, "You know, I'm going to be 94 this year," disregarding the fact that he had just turned 93 a mere two months prior. His unique approach to age counting reflected his infectious excitement for life, his love for birthdays, and, above all, his adoration for ice cream.

Ice cream held a special place in Tony's heart. His top favorites included butter pecan, black cherry, strawberry, and vanilla, unless it was a banana split day. After every event or outing, if the mention of ice cream was overlooked, Tony would interject with those two little words, "Ice cream?" His enthusiasm for banana splits was unwavering, even when he discovered they were not as popular as before. Determined to have it his way, he was taken aback when the ice cream worker suggested making it without a banana – complete blasphemy in Tony's eyes. In a heartwarming gesture, his son-in-law, Chuck, volunteered to dash across busy Ford Road to secure a banana from the local grocery store, ensuring that Tony could enjoy a proper banana split. It was indeed a great day for Tony, filled with the joy of celebration and his beloved ice cream.

While it may be cliché to reference Frank Sinatra's “My Way”, especially at a time like this, Tony truly did “live a life that’s full” and, as a truck driver, he genuinely did “travel each and every highway and more.” His guiding principle was to only surround himself only with what and who he loved. In embracing the essence of Sinatra's iconic song, Tony leaves behind a legacy of a life lived authentically, filled with love, adventures, and the pursuit of joy. He was a loving loyal husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who always “stood tall and did it his way.”

A visitation will be held on Monday, 1/29/2024, from 2:00 - 9:00 PM at The Martenson Family of Funeral Homes (10915 Allen Rd, Allen Park, MI 48101). Visitation continues on Tuesday from 9:30 AM until the mass of resurrection at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Angels Church (6442 Pelham Rd, Taylor, MI 48180). On Wednesday the final commendation and committal will be at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery (18303 Allen Rd, Brownstown, MI 48193). Friends may share a memory and pictures of Anthony with his family at www.martenson.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Anthony’s name to the Michigan War Dog Memorial, Inc. to honor his time serving with his dog, Rex. Donations can be made online visiting www.mwdm.org/index.php/donations or via the link below.