He was born and raised in Alamo, (Rio Grande Valley), Texas on November 20, 1928. First born son to Lina Hernandez and Magdaleno Villanueva who cared for him along with his three sisters  who followed.  They lost their mother in 1936, when he was eight years old. 

He and his sisters went to Mexico where they went to school and he also worked as a delivery boy when he was ten years old.  His adolescent years were spent in the Rio Grande Valley until he married in 1949.

He married the love of his life Maria de Jesus Ortiz and had two daughters, Lina Guadalupe and Maria Magdalena. In 1955 they moved to Corpus Christi in pursuit of better opportunities. 

He found work as a ranch hand at the London Community working in the sorghum and cotton fields for over eight years. In 1965 he made the difficult decision to leave the country living and moved inside the city limits of Corpus Christi. 

His work ethic and the many skills he possessed landed him a job with the City of Corpus Christi Street Department where he was a supervisor and where he worked for over 25 years until retirement.

After retiring they traveled extensively throughout Mexico, Colorado, and Yellow Stone National Park. Their excursions also included parts of Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Spain. 

Retirement also meant free time for hobbies, home projects, lawn work and visiting relatives, which meant digging into his culture and genealogy, one of his many passions. His father had always instilled in him the importance of knowing where he was from and the history of his ancestors. Climbing a steep hill to reach an ancestor was not an obstacle for him and it made for fun times and interesting stories. 

Edmundo is survived by his two grieving daughters, Lina Guadalupe Villanueva and Maria Magdalena Graham (Jess) and by his three sisters Maria Luisa Zozaya (Olegario), Maria Elena Salinas (Ramón+), Rosalinda Escobar (Abel). His brothers Pedro Villanueva, Jesus Villanueva (Elizabeth), David (Becky) Villanueva, and Cruz Villanueva.  Several Grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. Countless number of nieces and nephews as well numerous cousins who love him dearly and will miss him immensely. 

Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Saxet Funeral Home. Interment will be held at Memory Garden Cemetery.