David Villalpando entered paradise peacefully on April 11, 2025 surrounded by the warmth and love of his family after bravely battling multiple effects of a stroke.

The great salesman and negotiator, the great treasure hunter, the great dad, the diehard fisherman, the passionate Dallas Cowboy, San Antonio Spurs, Star Wars fan and Star Trek fan….list can go on.

David was born the middle child of Trinidad and Humberto Villalpando Sr. As middle child he felt to be the forgotten one, the one that had to fend for himself.  Luckily he had God given talents, and he learned to fine tune them from a very young age. He would say "I went to the flea market with my dad, I would go buy items from other sellers, bring them back to our table and sell them for more money".  He then went to work after school and weekends at the neighborhood corner store and stocked bottles of soda and flipping burgers for $1 an hour.  He managed to always have money in his pocket.

He fondly remembered going to Garner State Park with his cousins and their families, with fishing being the highlight.

In school teachers gravitated to his charm, candor, imagination and stage presence.  He was kept in kindergarten an additional year citing his hands were too small to write and could not move up in grade.  The story that he told was that the teacher liked him so much she kept him another year.

In middle school he won 1st place in a science project and was very proud of that achievement. By his admission, his middle school years were when he really studied in school. He also was drawn to creating and bringing puppets to life in various school presentations.  He spoke of how his teacher fought to bring the westside school class to San Pedro Theater to participate and how he really enjoyed that time.

At the age of 14 he fell gravely ill was hospitalized for over a month, there was an infection they could not figure out.  He was on deaths door and he recalls a priest visited him and the priest told him he needed to pray to God directly.  And so he did, he was urinating blood and asked to be healed, and so he was.  He recalls waking up alone in a hospital room to a Willie Nelson concert on PBS, the song Red Headed stranger was playing at the time.

His high school memories were riddled with tales of his ability to charm girls and land multiple dates.  The Boy in the Bubble was his CB radio handle; it was the AMC Pacer Era, along with his adventures with his high school friends Nick, Ralph, Carlos and Manuel. He spoke with great fondness of their drives to the coast and them having the best of times.  He also loved aviation and aspired to be a pilot yet this was not destined to be part of his journey.  His outgoing nature also captured the attention of a person who offered him a full ride to Baylor University that too was not to be part of his journey.

David was a quiet worshiper.  He believed in God and felt a special connection to the Holy Spirit from the time he was healed at 14 years of age.  David sought out religion on his own by going to youth groups at St. Timothy Catholic church where he completed some of his sacraments.  His faith led him to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout his life usually while he was fishing, as that when he was comfortable praying.  The last time he shared a notable touch by the spirit was when he touched the water in Mendenhall Lake in Juneau. It brought him to tears and also much peace.

David quietly practiced random act of kindness, which he didn't speak of much.  He paid for several elderly peoples groceries when they fell short of cash, he bought the pizza for the mom who sat outside the Pizza place, he gave rides to the elderly person who struggled to walk, just to name a few.

His adult work career started in child care centers and eventually landed in sales, that was his destiny.  He worked the jewelry business from his late twenties thru his sixties. He could spot gold/silver and precious gems in the most obscure places. He earned the respect of many for his knowledge base and business sense. He networked with many many people in all types of settings.  Some of these colleagues became life-long and dear friends

He married at 19 years old and was blessed with two boys who were the love of his life.  His second marriage came and blessed him with another three boys.  All the boys were his pride and joy. He taught the boys from the beginning that they were all brothers (not step brothers) and was proud that as they grew into adulthood they continued that sentiment toward one another.

A Cardinal at a confirmation mass spoke of wealth, not material wealth but God given wealth.  He spoke of how children were the most precious and greatest blessing God could give us.  He asked all parents to stand and eventually only those parents with the most children were standing, David was among them.  These God given gifts were his destiny.

He was the dad that did not miss child support payments, the dad that gladly picked up his boys on his weekends.  He was the dad that immersed himself in the boys' school days by being that dad that stayed up late at night to create run through posters for the boys flag football teams year after year. He coached summer basketball teams, he declined management positions that would take him away from the boys school events.  He was that dad that stood on the sidelines cheering them on in all performances they took part in. He was the dad that worked the concessions job to help fund their private high school.

When the grandchildren came he was beyond himself with joy and insisted on being there to welcome his granddaughter, to count her little fingers and toes.  He worried when his grandson was born early, that worry turned to beaming pride over the years as he casted his first fishing line perfectly…he was a natural and grandpa could not be happier or prouder.

David the husband was a source of confidence, adventure and safe haven.  The ultimate romantic who would surprise with thoughtful gifts, encourage spontaneous dates and trips.  He was a caring and loving friend when times were hard, a fierce advocate and protector when he was called to be.  There was never fear of David inflicting physical injury, there was never fear that he would come home drunk.  He was a great blessing in these ways.

David lived a wonderful life with peaks and valleys.  A life God had pre-destined for him from way before his birth.  He enjoyed many holidays with his boys, many fishing trips and vacations with his siblings, friends, and wife. He enjoyed traveling and was able to visit many places near and far.

He brought debate to sports, politics, music and anything that he felt passionate about.  He had no issue giving you his opinion, whether you asked for it or not, but most of all he brought love and compassion in the most unexpected times.

David will be greatly missed by his wife, five sons; two grandchildren; four siblings and their spouses; and his numerous colleagues and friends. Till we meet again! We love you!