Pilar Villamor Kauffmann, 79, passed away August 25, 2005 at Whidbey General Hospital after a battle with liver disease. She had friends and hospital staff by her side at the time of her passing.

Pilar was born in Rota, Spain, on March 17, 1926 to Simona Chamorro Martinez and Ricardo Villamor Fernandez. She lived and worked in Rota until she met and married Herbert R. Kauffmann on July 20, 1961. Herb was an Air Traffic Controller in the Navy. They transferred back to the United States where Herb eventually got stationed at NAS Whidbey Island making Oak Harbor their permanent home. Pilar became a US citizen on Nov. 15, 1968. Herb retired from the Navy as a Master Chief Petty Officer on Jan. 17, 1978 and died on Dec. 7, 1985.

Becoming a U.S. citizen was one of Pilar’s proudest moments. Although she was a U.S. citizen she never forgot her family roots. Pilar made many trips to Spain to spend time with her family whom she loved very much. She also had many close friends in Oak Harbor and elsewhere. Pilar started working at the former Myers Mini Mart in 1981. She stayed on in Oak Harbor after her husband’s death, continuing to work at the mini mart until her retirement in March 1999. She was very outgoing and personable, striking up a conversation with anyone she met. She loved to sing in her native Spanish language, dance and play bingo. Her fondest memories were of her years at the mini mart and her get-togethers in her old neighborhood on Foxglove Lane (now Spitfire Lane) where she lived for over 40 years.

Pilar is survived by her sisters, Petra Villamor Chamorro of Madrid, Spain and Regina Villamor Chamorro of Valencia, Spain and her brother, Lorenzo Villamor Chamorro of Madrid, Spain. Her brother, Arturo Villamor Chamorro preceded her in death.  She is also survived by many other relatives who reside in Spain.

Pilar had very close friends on Whidbey Island, in Nebraska and in New Hampshire who loved her very much and will miss her dearly. It was her wish to be cremated and her ashes spread over the area where the ashes of her husband, Herb, were spread. A private ceremony for the cremation will be held at Burley Funeral Chapel.