MILTON VILLARREAL

Milton Villarreal, 86, of Belton, Missouri, passed away on January 14, 2012 in Harrisonville, Missouri. Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Thursday, January 19, 2012 at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 PM Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Cullen Funeral Home in Raymore. Graveside services will be 2:30 PM at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Mr. Villarreal was born in Pearsall, Texas, on April 1, 1925. He was a veteran of World War II and served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. Mr. Villarreal took part in the Normandy Invasion with the 29th Infantry Division, was wounded and captured by the enemy near Saint Lo, France, on June 13, 1944. He was interned as a POW for 11 months. For his service, Mr. Villarreal was awarded the following medals and decoration: Purple Heart, Good Conduct, Victory in Europe, Army of Occupation, Vietnam Service, POW, the Bronze Star and four Normandy Liberation medals.

Mr. Villarreal married his high school sweetheart, Imelda Villanueva, on December 12, 1945, in Donna, Texas. He was employed by the U.S. Air Force for 27 years, working in Spain, Vietnam, Texas, Missouri and Illinois, retiring in 1979. He was an active member of St. Sabina Catholic Church since 1969 and served as finance chairman of the first parish council, and was instrumental in building the new church on Trevis Avenue in 1973. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also an active member in the Heart of America Chapter of Ex-POW's, and the DAV, and took classes at the University of Maryland 1966-1969.

Mr. Villarreal is survived by his wife of 66 years, Imelda, and their six children, Xavier G. Villarreal (Christine), of Centennial, CO; Norma Lindsey (Martin), of Chesterfield, MO; Michael Anthony Villarreal, of Belton, MO; Felix G. Villarreal, of Chesterfield, MO; Veronica R. Villarreal of Seattle, WA; Air Force Lt. Col. Juan C. Villarreal (Christine Carol), of Papillion, NE; four grandchildren, Matthew, Michael, Dianne and Natalie; and three great-grandchildren, Veronica, Duke and Sawyer. He is also survived by a brother, Reducindo Villarreal Jr. of Odessa, TX and three sisters, Nora Hernandez, Norma Ibarra and Frailana Garza, also of Odessa, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Jude's Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude's St., Boulder City, NV, 89005, or to St. Sabina Catholic Church, 700 Trevis Ave., Belton, MO, 64012.

ARRANGEMENTS; CULLEN FUNERAL HOME, RAYMORE, MISSOURI
(816)322-5278