Hector Villalobos, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2025, at the age of 74. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, on April 1, 1951, Hector lived a life marked by service, faith, and an unwavering love for his family.

At the age of 18, Hector enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served his country during the Vietnam War for two back-to-back tours. Assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, he was a point man the entire time. The Point man walks several meters ahead of the rest of the squad, serving as the first point of contact and a crucial role in reconnaissance and security. After Vietnam, he completed his enlistment as a Rifle Instructor.

After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Hector moved back to New York where he worked as a taxi and limo driver, meeting many notable individuals during his time behind the wheel and collecting autographs. He also served as a Statue of Liberty Park Service Ranger. In the early 1980s, Hector and Gladys moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Hector worked as a warehouseman at Letterkenny Army Depot until he retired, following his 100% permanent disability rating from the Veterans Administration. Hector was dedicated to helping veterans, advocating for mental health care and assisting them in obtaining the benefits they rightfully deserved.

In 2001, Hector's life took a spiritual turn when he trusted Jesus as his personal Savior. His new mission became sharing the gospel, and he traveled across the country, delivering gospel tracts to military bases and working with chaplains to reach new recruits and those preparing for deployment. Hector even wrote his own gospel tract, which was printed and approved by the Fellowship Tract League.

Throughout his life, Hector was deeply passionate about his family. He was a loving husband to his wife, Gladys, for 52 years, always treating her with the utmost love and respect. Hector's generosity and devotion to his family were unmatched—he would give the shirt off his back for his loved ones. He took great joy in spending time with his children, David James and Sarah Nichole, and cherished his role as a grandfather to Emily, Valerie, Paulina, Rebekah, Emma, and Hannah, as well as his great-grandchildren, Mark, Eden, and Remi.

Hector's love for life, his dedication to his faith, and his genuine kindness made him stand out in any crowd. His legacy of service, compassion, and generosity will live on through his family and the countless lives he touched.

He is survived by his loving wife Gladys, his son David James, his daughter Sarah Nichole, his grandchildren Emily, Valerie, Paulina, Rebekah, Emma, and Hannah, and his great-grandchildren Mark, Eden, and Remi.

A memorial service will be held in honor of Hector on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Peters Funeral Home, 321 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family asks donations be sent to Triumph over Trauma, a non profit organization that provides confidential barrier-free, stigma-free mental health treatment for the military community.   https://theheadstrongproject.org/