Benjamin Cayton Villanueva

Benjamin Cayton Villanueva, age 92, of San Diego, California passed away on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Benjamin was born in Cavite, Central Luzon, Philippines to Eusebio De Vega Villanueva and Rita Cayton Villanueva.

Benjamin served in the United States Navy for 30 years as PNCS (Personnel Men Senior Chief). He joined the US Navy with his younger brother Conrado (Ding) Villanueva in 1954 as a seaman recruit after WWII. Prior to enlisting in the Navy at 24 years of age, Ben had already completed his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and was half way through completing his Juris Doctorate in law from the University of Philippines when he decided to be honorably discharged from his study to enlist in the US Navy with his brother. During WWII the US Navy occupied the town Ben grew up in during the WWII Japanese occupation of the Philippines. As a young boy, the US Naval men were like super heroes that came in to push the Japanese out of the Philippines. Any time Ben had to pass through the US gate to either leave town or come back home, the sentinel at the gate would give him a piece of candy. Later on in his Navy career while in Rhode Island, Ben would run into this same Naval man and he would share in a moment of nostalgia and honor with this man through being able to connect, and demonstrate how the kindness he showed to Ben shaped his future. Ben would later on prove his gratitude though 30 years of dedicated Naval service and in the lives of the family members he helped to influence, guide and support during their Naval careers.

Ben was a patriot, an intellectual, and a well known dancer at the dance halls and the CPO Club (Chief Petty Officer's Club). Ben was a very active man after his Navy retirement in 1984. During Ben's retirement he decided that he would finish his law degree at Western State University, College of Law, in San Diego. Ben graduated in 1992 at the age of 62! Ben was an avid sports fan of the San Diego Padres and the San Diego Chargers. He enjoyed playing ping pong with his friends, bowling, shooting pool at the Norman Senior Center, and of course, Scrabble and karaoke. Ben was on bowling leagues, played in ping pong competitions, and he competed in national Scrabble tournaments. Ben won many trophies in bowling, Scrabble, pool and even grabbed a couple trophies for his awesome dancing skills. The Cha-Cha, Waltz and Jitterbug were among his favorite dances!

More than anything though Ben's love for family was a huge driving force for him, both in his career and personally. Ben sponsored as many family members as he could to support them in gaining US citizenship. The hope of providing his family with better opportunities in the US was paramount in the story of Benjamin's legacy. Many of those he sponsored went on to have Naval careers of their own. Having sponsored the lives and futures of his family here in the US, he is dearly loved and honored by all the Villanueva and Cayton families. Ben was the life of every family gathering; bringing karaoke, singing, and encouraging everyone to join in and cut a rug on the dance floor. Ben was generous and often made sure that the family had what they needed as they started to adjust to life in the United States. Ben,being very savvy with paperwork helped the family members file the appropriate forms and he would also travel to Long Beach most weekends to check in on family, buy groceries, and ensure that his father, step mother, and all his younger brothers were provided for. Benjamin also sent money back to Philippines in order to support his sisters back home. He helped to send his older sister's children to school and many other family members. Ben helped everyone he could and was known to be very generous and kind-hearted.

Ben is survived by his son, Patrick Villanueva and his grand daughter, Johanna Villanueva; his daughter, Kimberly Villanueva; and his grand children Michael Jones and Autumn Beavers from his marriage to Dorothy Villanueva. Ben was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dorothy Jones Villanueva (January 2023); his sister Aurelia Villanueva Ignacio (2020); and his brother, Conrado Cayton Villanueva (September 2016).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.glenabbeysandiego.net for the Villanueva family.