Dolores Munoz

Dr. Dolores Muñoz (75), beloved wife, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and well-known education leader in Texas, passed peacefully on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at her residence in Mission, TX surrounded by loving family, after receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion.

After graduating from Mission High School in 1967, she completed her undergraduate degree in Education at The University of Texas at Austin. She then earned a Master's Degree from Southern Methodist University and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Munoz’ career as an educational leader spanned 40 years in the Texas Public School system where she worked passionately to improve education for all students under her purview. Dr. Munoz’ expertise enabled her to serve as a witness during the State of Texas vs Edgewood ISD landmark case, resulting in the total revamp of the State’s public school funding system. Her career began in Dallas ISD as Teacher, Assistant Superintendent and later served as Superintendent for San Benito, Edgewood, and Point Isabel ISD. Dolores was an innovator who believed the improvement of educational programs could be achieved if collaborative input by parents, teachers, and community were included in the decision making process. After retirement she served as adjunct professor in the Department of Education at The University of Texas – Pan American in Edinburg, TX.

Dolores is well remembered by friends and colleagues as a determined, intelligent woman whose motivations to achieve greatness in her work were driven not by the incentive to climb the ladder of success, or the desire to receive recognition but rather to serve, direct and lead others so they too demonstrated God’s gifts in pursuing their career. Dolores was a mentor and inspiration to many young women, both professionally and personally throughout her life.

Dolores was devoted to the Catholic faith, serving as a Board Member of the Oblate Board – San Antonio Texas. The scripture passage that embodied her spirit is “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will!”

Dolores is preceded in death by her parents Francisco and Francisca Muñoz; her maternal grandparents, Cresencio and Maria de Jesús Alvarez; sister Margarita Muñoz, her family who were vital in her upbringing, Juan Alvarez (Guadalupe†), Antonio Alvarez (Ernestina†), Virginia A. Saldaña (Doroteo); mother-in-law Helen Villegas (Victor†)

Dolores was born in Mission, Texas to Francisca and Francisco Muñoz on March 26, 1948 and was the eldest of four siblings.

Dolores is survived by her devoted husband of 36 years, Daniel Villegas, children Mike, Jewel Amberger (John); grandchildren John Paul Jr. (Audrey), Alex (Yesenia), Jeremy (Mahlon), Daphne, Tristan; great-grandchildren; siblings Amparo Rivera (Noe†), Francisco (Mary), David (Belinda†), Muñoz half-siblings (El Paso); Villegas siblings, aunts and uncles, Maria Elena Farias (Abel†), Cresencio Alvarez Jr. (Maria Petra), Ruben Alvarez; Muñoz, Rivera, Villegas nieces and nephews; Alvarez, Farias, Perez, Saldana cousins