Born in Brownsville, Texas on October 26, 1938, Diego “Leo” Villarreal passed away from this earth in Kingsville, Texas on October 9, 2026.

Leo believed in working hard for everything good in life. He worked in Brownsville as a young boy to help provide for his family. He walked to school, to work and to football practice. He joined the Navy from 1957-1961. After serving his country, he attended Texas A&I University, earning his bachelor’s and master’s and then North Carolina Central University where he earned his Juris Doctorate. He taught at Texas A&I University and New York State University. After earning his Juris Doctorate, he opened his law office in Kingsville, where he practiced law for over 50 years, was Kleberg County Court-at-Law Judge and was Administrative Assistant to the Kenedy County Commissioners Court, the Kenedy County Groundwater Conservation District and the Kenedy County Fire & Emergency Services District No. 1. He dedicated himself to his clients and Kenedy County until the very end.

He was a man of God and devoted his life to doing the Lord’s work. If he was not reading the Good Book, he was watching or listening to it. He had a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off his back. He had a great sense of humor and could never tell the same joke twice without changing the joke or laughing so hard that he could not tell the joke. He loved giving his time to his family, friends, neighbors, church and community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eliseo and Maria Villarreal, his brother, Eliseo Villarreal, and sister, Katherine Gilliam.

Leo is survived by his wife, Sylvia H. Villarreal, his children, Markus A. (Teresa) Villarreal, Sonya M. (Ramon) Rodelo, Kimberly M. (Joshua) Niles and Michael G. Andrus, his eight grandchildren, Joshua Villarreal, Samuel Rodelo, Laney Andrus, David Rodelo, Mason Andrus, Micah Rodelo, Trystin Andrus and Kamron Andrus, and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate Leo's life on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Sarita, Texas. Visitation will begin at 3:00 PM, followed by a rosary at 5:30 PM, and a Mass of Christian Burial at 6:30 PM. A committal service and burial will take place the following day, Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi, Texas.