Randyval Go Villanueva

Anyone who knew him would say it was appropriate that Randy Villanueva was born on Valentine’s Day. A man who touched the lives of all he met so positively in his 51 years, Randy was a beloved son, brother, uncle and a friend to scores of people wherever he went. He made friends so easily, he could pass through a drive-thru restaurant window and come out the other end with a burger and a lifelong friend.

He died July 24, 2026, in Concord, NC, of complications due to a bee sting. Born Randyval Go Villanueva (the “val” in honor of his Valentine’s Day birth) at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, to Edelwina Villanueva and Loreto C. Villanueva Jr., who was a petty officer in the Navy at the time. The family moved to Eatontown, NJ in 1978. Randy attended Manchester Township (NJ) High School and graduated with a BS degree in marketing from West Chester (PA) University in 1998. He then made his home in Chester County, PA, for the next 30 plus years. His mechanical ability, his interest in bicycles, and his facility with languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Ilocano, Tagalog, and of course English) led him to work all over the world on professional competitive bike teams. As a college student, he was a mechanic at Bike Line of West Chester. He was a neutral support mechanic with Mavic maintaining bicycles for all teams during competitive races. He also worked for pro teams in Brazil, Mexico, Canada, China, throughout Europe, and most recently in Rwanda. He was especially proud of his work with the Wounded Warrior Battalion West USMC team. Randy was fearless, never hesitating to get on the back of a motorcycle while balancing a bike wheel in each hand and racing down the track seeking competitors in need of help. As a fellow Mavic mechanic described him: “He was as good as his word and preferred to just…be straight up, instead of self-promoting.” Randy was also an avid car mechanic, often ending up on a cold garage floor in 10-degree weather trying to fix a major engine problem. This technical experience led him to a sales/service/mechanic position at Garnet VW in West Chester.

He is survived by his parents, his younger sister Rachel Koons (Ryan); nephews, Gavin, Bailey and Riley; his companion of 20 years Eva Barabas; uncles, aunts and cousins; and numerous close family-like friends.

A Mass of Christian burial will be said Friday, Aug. 7 at 10am at St. John’s Church, 619 Chestnut St., Lakehurst, NJ. Entombment of ashes will immediately follow at the Mary Queen of Peace Mausoleum in St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, located at 2351 Massachusetts Ave, Toms River, NJ 08753. A memorial service to remember Randy will be held at 10:30 am, Aug. 29th, 2026, at the Kimberton Fire Company, 61 Firehouse Lane (GPS: 2276 Kimberton Road), Phoenixville, PA.

Condolences and tributes to the Villanueva family can be left on this website.