Irma Villalva Esparza's Obituary
Irma Villalva Esparza passed away at the age of 78 on Sunday, July 6th, 2025 in Wylie, Texas. Irma was born in El Paso, TX on March 2, 1947 and was the daughter of Manuel and Tomasa Villalva.
Irma met the love of her life, Juan, while working at S.H. Kress & Co. in downtown El Paso. Although she was busy decorating the window displays on the sales floor, she would always find a reason to call the shy guy working in the backroom. Juan and Irma were married on July 1, 1972 and just celebrated their 53rd Wedding Anniversary this past July. They were blessed with two children, Johnnie and Ja’net.
Irma had a passion for family, soccer, and the City of El Paso. She was actively involved in the East El Paso Soccer League, holding cabinet positions such as Treasurer and even League Commissioner. Most Saturdays during the soccer season, you would find Irma wearing a visor walking the fields, sometimes ringing a cowbell, taking care of her young referees with refreshments, and making sure all soccer games were on schedule and on time. Her love of soccer came from her kids. Both Johnnie and Ja’net played youth soccer and also refereed on the side. Irma and her husband Juan even started their own club soccer team for girls, the Pink Panthers. They coached the Pink Panthers for about 10 years. After working for 30 years as a police officer from the El Paso Police Department, and then working another 10 years with the El Paso Independent School District, also as a police officer, Irma’s husband, finally retired and she got her wish of moving to Dallas, TX to be near her kids and all five grandchildren. Irma and Juan found their new home in Wylie, TX in 2014 where she enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, watching the Dallas Cowboys football games, attending the grandkids’ school events, and celebrated many of their birthdays. Irma enjoyed dancing any chance she got. When she was younger, she even choreographed several quinceañeras. Irma was an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved her family fiercely and was the matriarch of our whole family. Irma will be forever missed. We will love her forever.
Irma is preceded in death by her father, Manual Villalva; her mother, Tomasa Villalva; her father-in-law, Juan Esparza, Sr.; her sister, Hermalinda Marrufo; and her brother Victor Villalva.
Irma is survived by her husband Juan Esparza Jr.; her son Johnnie, Johnnie’s wife Veronica and their five children: Aaron, Jacob, Matthew, Abigail, and Benjamin; her daughter, Ja’net, Ja’net’s wife Katie Lynn; her brother Pedro (Pete) Villalva and his wife Gina; her sister Elvira (Vera) Countryman; her sister-in-law Bessaida Villalva; and her sister Elsa Alcantar and her husband Arnulfo Alcantar. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
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