Mr. Pepito Villanueva Rivera

Pepito Villanueva Rivera, PetPit, 81, lost his life tragically in a fatal vehicle accident on April 22, 2015 in Sacramento, California.

He was born in Poblacion, Dalaguete, Cebu, Philippines to Ramon Rivera and Maria Villanueva in 1933. He attended the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, and the Cebu Institute of Technology and studied engineering before joining the United States Navy in 1957. He served his adopted country with honor and pride for 20 years, and was a proud Vietnam Veteran. Upon his retirement from the Navy in 1976, he relocated to Stockton, California where he was committed to raising and providing for his family. He spent his retirement years traveling between his beloved homes in the Philippines and in Stockton working on his many projects. He was one of the founders of the Dalaguete, Cebu Overseas Association (DCOA), and long-time member of the Filipino United States Armed Forces Retirees Association (FUSAFRA) in Stockton, California.

Pepito is survived by his wife of 54 years, Connie Rivera. He is loved and dearly missed by his three children: Judith JOY Rivera-Trim (Steve Trim) of Stockton, CA, Jennifer Ann Rivera (Benito Calvar) of London, England, and Patrick Rivera (Jennifer Nerves), as well as his three grandchildren, Kaia, Kali’a and Lukas of Stockton, CA. He was a loving, but firm Filipino father who took pride in his children and instilled into them his passion for their heritage.

He is survived by his brother, Loreto V. Rivera, and his sister, Felomina Rivera Duenas, both of Dalaguete, Cebu, PI. He is reunited with his parents and his sisters, Trinidad Rivera Guiral and Teresita Rivera Legaspi in Heaven with his Lord. He also leaves behind a community of family and friends from around the world who mourn his passing.

Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 4:00 PM at Deyoung Shoreline Chapel, 7676 Shoreline Drive, Stockton, CA 95219.

Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015 @ 10:00 AM

St. George's Catholic Church, 120 West Fifth Street, Stockton, CA 95206

The remains of Pepito V. Rivera will be placed to rest in the land of his birth, Dalaguete, Cebu, Philippines.