HORACE "HONDO" VILLIA JR's Obituary
Horace “Hondo” Villia Jr.Horace Villia Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 6, 1937, to Horace Villia and Leona Sanders Marts. He was the eldest of seven children. When his father passed away at an early age, big brother Horace became the take charge fix-it man of the house, helping his mother with his siblings. As a youth, he worked paper routes and as a delivery boy for a drugstore and brought home tutti-frutti ice cream for his siblings each night. He also worked at the local grocery store. He loved his siblings and would do whatever he could to help out; simple things, like a pretty lunch pail he bought for his sister Evelyn. She says he was always there for his family.Horace was baptized in 1953 at Loving Four Baptist Tabernacle Church in New Orleans, Louisiana. In September 1955, after graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, he enlisted in the US Air Force. He was trained as an Avionics Communication Technician, repairing aircraft communication systems as well as teaching classes in this field. His comrades in the military, didn’t think Horace was a befitting name for a man of his size or rough demeanor. It was during this time, that he was given a nickname, and became known to many as simply “Hondo” for the remainder of his life.After 21 years, he retired from the US Air Force. He found work at Siemen’s Medical Lab for a year. Then, in January 1979, he started a 29-year career in the US Postal Service as a mail processing equipment mechanic. He became Shop Steward in 1986 with the American Postal Workers Union, San Francisco Local 2, and held the position of Maintenance Director for over 20 years. The work of a union representative was not easy, but he enjoyed supporting the rights of his fellow coworkers. His role as a take charge fix-it man was a pattern he repeated often; as a big brother, in the military and finally, as a respected union representative.He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.He met his wife Silvia at the San Francisco Post Office in 1982. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married in a union that would last for 31 years, produce three beautiful children and two grandchildren. His declining health eventually prompted her to take an early retirement, so she could attend to his increasing needs.On the morning of December 16, 2013, he told his wife, “I’m going over to the other side.” Several times throughout that day, he told her “I love you. Thank you for loving me and taking such good care of me.” That evening, Horace “Hondo” Villia crossed over to the other side and met his Lord and Savior. We take comfort in knowing that his suffering has ended and that he is now in a better place.He leaves to cherish loving memories, his wife Silvia, his daughters Terese and Kerian, his son Derek, (wife Mandy), granddaughters Mariana and Lucille, his sister Evelyn Villia Carter, brothers Robert Villia and Anthony Marts, his mother-in-law Chang Jok Lee, his many in-laws, nephews and nieces.
What’s your fondest memory of HORACE?
What’s a lesson you learned from HORACE?
Share a story where HORACE's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with HORACE you’ll never forget.
How did HORACE make you smile?