Villagran, Edward

December 31, 1913 - March 16, 2006

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) - Friday, March 24, 2006

 Edward Villagran was born 12/31/1913 in El Paso, TX, moving to Pinole when a child; serving mass as an altar boy at St. Joseph's. Ed worked for the Pinole Times upon graduation, having many a sports column byline. He was drafted into the Army, 3rd Infantry Division Artillery, on 3/27/1941; becoming a Technical Sergeant of the 41st Field Artillery Battalion, serving in Northern Africa, Central Europe, and Italy. Ed received an Honorable Discharge on 8/21/1945, went to work in Oakland at Bankers Printing, and met the love of his life, Caroline Contreras of San Pablo. They married on 9/21/1947 at St. Paul's Church, San Pablo. A couple of years later a son, Carlos, and daughter, Paula, were born. Ed loved baseball, fishing, and camping. Later when Bankers Printing closed, Ed found new jobs working for newspapers on the Peninsula and at the Oakland Tribune as a pressman. He retired in 1980 at the age of 66. Ed took his wife on many trips and cruises after retirement, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, the East Coast, and the Panama Canal. He slipped away quietly in his sleep the morning of 3/16/06. Ed is survived by Caroline, Carlos (wife, Connie), Paula; sisters, Connie Hernandez, Louise Prieto, Aurora Bard (husband, Don), and Eleanor Railey; and his brother, Peter. At 7 pm on Monday, 3/27, a rosary will be held at Wilson & Kratzer Mortuary, 13644 San Pablo Ave., San Pablo, followed by a funeral mass at St. Paul's Church, 1845 Church Lane, Tuesday, 3/28, 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place at St. Joseph's Cemetary, 2560 Church Lane, San Pablo, immediately following. If you wish to make a memorial contribution in Ed's name - the American Diabetes Assn. or the American Heart Assn.

Jack Werk