Dominador Villanueva

Dominador Villanueva, 85, born on November 5, 1939, in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, passed away February 1, 2025. He resided in Cypress, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Cypress, CA.

Survived by wife Amelia Villanueva; 3 sons - Dennis, Allan and Danny; 2 nephews - Manuel and Wendell; and grandchildren Mathew, Mark, Kayla, Chloe, Noah, Dino, Deuce, Delilah, Nathan, Ria and Rico.

Beloved Kuya to Cleopatra Villanueva Maglantay, Concepcion Villanueva Leaño and Leonida Norma Villanueva Whaples.

Dom, as he was fondly called, was educated at Vintar Gabaldon Elementary School, Ilocos Norte School of Arts and Trades, the Philippine College of Arts and Trades, and earned his masters degree at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Dom married his high school sweetheart, Amelia Ancheta Alcon, in 1961, with whom he had three boys - Dennis, Allan and Danny.

He was a faculty member of the University of the Philippines High School, teaching industrial arts from 1961 until he migrated to the United States in 1972 with his family.  Dom held various jobs in the US including teaching briefly at Stanford High School in Virginia. In California, he worked for AARP for many years.

In 1983, Dom and Mellie became guardians to their nephews, Manuel and Wendell Vicente, who were treated as sons. The five boys were a handful, but Dom always guided them with patience.

At his last employer, Duplex Products, Dom opted for early retirement in 2004, instead of moving out of state with the company. He then took on full-time involvement with the growing family taking them on numerous vacations, locally and abroad, enriching the life experiences of his children and grandchildren. It is no wonder the boys now take annual trips with their own families.

Other than traveling with his loving wife, Dom loved to read, favoring the works of Scott Turow, John Grisham and Tom Clancy. He and Mellie enjoyed Korean movies. In a recent trip to Korea, they even visited the studios where the movies were made!

Dom was always busy. Wasting time was not in part of his life style. You would often find him sprucing up their home and maintaining their rental properties. He was truly a family man, being in his element when surrounded by his children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren. He was an adored husband, father, uncle, lolo (grandfather) and ninong. His legacy of love, kindness and compassion was experienced by so many, family and friends alike.

Dom took great pride in being a pioneering officer of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) in Long Beach since 1972, where he dedicated his life as a head deacon.