A Legacy of Faith, Family, and Service

Juven Villegas of El Paso, Texas, was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, and lifelong servant to his community. He returned to God's arms on September 1, 2020, leaving behind a legacy defined not simply by what he accomplished, but by the countless lives he touched along the way.

Juven had a rare ability to make people feel seen, welcomed, and valued. He never met a stranger. His warmth, humor, faith, and genuine kindness followed him everywhere he went, and those who knew him understood that helping others was simply part of who he was.

Born and raised in El Paso's historic Segundo Barrio, Juven was the youngest of five children. His family's story was rooted in hard work and perseverance after his father relocated the family to the area through the Bracero Program in the late 1950s. Those beginnings helped shape the values Juven carried throughout his life: faith, family, hard work, gratitude, and service to others.

At just 17 years old, Juven met the love of his life, Elsa. Together, they built a marriage centered on faith and devotion, receiving the Holy Sacrament of Marriage at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on October 20, 1973. As longtime members of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Juven faithfully served as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, catechist, choir member, Cursillista, and ACTS brother.

His faith wasn't something he simply spoke about—it was something he lived. Among the words his family heard from him often were "One day at a time," "Gracias a Dios," and his unwavering belief that "Con Dios todo se puede."

For more than 30 years, Juven proudly served as a mentor at the David L. Carrasco Job Corps, helping guide and inspire hundreds of young men and women. He found genuine joy in seeing others succeed and took tremendous pride when former students returned years later to share what they had accomplished.

Later in life, he worked alongside his sons at Longhorn Electrical Services and continued serving others through the home health industry, where his compassion, personality, and even his love of singing brought comfort and happiness to senior adults.

Above everything else, Juven was a family man.

He cherished his children and took tremendous pride in his grandchildren. Whether organizing family road trips, taking the family to Universal Studios, or traveling to watch his beloved New York Yankees, Juven understood that some of life's greatest gifts were the memories created together.

Sports were another important part of his life. Juven played softball for more than 20 years with teams including the Alley Cats, Zapata, El Paso Kings, Strikers, and Marlboro. His dedication to the game, sportsmanship, and love of teamwork ultimately earned him induction into the El Paso Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 2015.

A proud graduate of El Paso High School's Class of 1972, Juven later earned his degree from The University of Texas at El Paso in 2006—a reflection of something he demonstrated throughout his life: it is never too late to grow, learn, or accomplish something meaningful.

For us, baseball is the gathering place.

It's where children learn teamwork, discipline, perseverance, respect, and how to compete. It's where parents become friends, teammates become family, and communities come together.

But our purpose extends beyond the field.

Each EP Sandlot Tournament provides an opportunity to incorporate community service, charitable giving, recognition, and causes that mean something to the people of El Paso.

Our upcoming Pride & Glory Tournament is another chapter in that mission. Held during the Thanksgiving season and following Veterans Day, the tournament will combine youth baseball with gratitude and service—honoring our veterans while bringing teams together to help local families through our Fill the Dugout Food Drive and other charitable efforts made in Juven's memory.

Because at the end of the weekend, trophies and wins are important—but what we leave behind matters more.