Eva Villalon Esparza passed away peacefully on August 13, 2026 at 96 years of age, surrounded by her children and welcomed into the open arms of our Lord and Savior. A strong, independent woman, Eva lived a full and remarkable life after becoming a widow at just 36. Her kindness, generosity, and beautiful smile will be deeply missed.
Born on December 30, 1929, in San Antonio, Texas, to Marcos T. Villalon and Adela Sandoval, Eva was raised by her grandmother, Eulalia H. Aguillon. Growing up with her grandmother who lived in a casita located behind the Saavedra family household, she was embraced by her mother’s sister, Guadalupe Saavedra’s entire family. As the only child of her parents—who each later had families of their own—Eva became the matriarch to seven paternal half siblings and ten maternal half-siblings.
On November 24, 1946, Eva married Tony G. Esparza, who served in the U.S. Air Force. As a devoted military wife, she managed their growing family during his assignments abroad, traveling with their four young children to Casablanca, Morocco; Aviano Air Base in Italy; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. When Tony was medically discharged in 1957 due to cardiac issues, Eva stepped forward as the family’s primary provider for nearly a decade until his passing in 1967.
Eva continued working in various roles and ultimately retired from a job she loved—serving as a cashier at the Lackland Air Force Base mess hall for basic trainees.
A devoted Catholic, Eva was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church where she was an active member of Las Marianas and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. She cherished her time with the Seniors Bunco Group until late 2025, when walking became difficult.
Family was central to Eva’s life. Though three of her four children moved away after leaving the nest, she treasured every visit and holiday together. She was blessed when all her children returned to San Antonio by 2009. With her son, Tony living with her, she enjoyed watching the Spurs, the Dallas Cowboys, and eventually developed a fondness for watching golf.
Eva was an exceptional cook whose pork tamales, menudo, and caldo de res became beloved family traditions. She passed this passion on to her daughters, who often asked her for recipes to keep those traditions alive.
Her longevity reflected her commitment to staying active. She walked daily with a neighbor at Alderete Park and the St. Mary’s University track, took aquatic exercise classes, and tended lovingly to her garden—especially her roses. In her later years, her favorite pastime became trips to the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino with family and friends.
The Esparza family extends heartfelt gratitude to Three Oaks Hospice, Senior Buddies Home Care Services (Sandra Luera), and private caregivers Beatriz Hernandez, Pati Amezquita, Maria Sanchez and Delia Salinas for their compassionate care during Eva’s final days. In addition, the family would also like to especially thank her neighbors, Sister Janette Hernandez and Cynthia Martinez from the bottom of their hearts for their loving attention to always help with Eva.
Eva was preceded in death by her husband, Tony, and her daughter, Sylvia V. Esparza. She is survived by her children: Tony G. Esparza; Rosie Perez (Alex); and Mary Ellen Rodriguez (Jerry). She leaves behind four grandchildren—Alex B. Perez Jr. (Sonya), Kathy Rodriguez (Ruben), Tanya Aleman (Robert), and Ryan Rodriguez—and five great-grandchildren: Calvin Perez, Gabrielle Ware, Mikayla Ware, Ava Rodriguez, and Adrian Rodriguez.
