Supercentenarian Profile

Virgilio Dávalos Rey

Born:

1914-10-08

Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazú Department

Paraguay

Died:

2026-02-28

Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazú Department

Paraguay

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Virgilio Dávalos Rey was a Paraguayan supercentenarian whose age has been validated by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Virgilio Dávalos Rey was born in the rural town of Plácido, on the outskirts of Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazu Department, Paraguay, on 8 October 1914. He was the fourth of six children born to parents Remigio Dávalos and Lorenza Rey: Máximo, Narciso, Víctor, Virgilio, Eugenia and Eudelio. He showed interest in reading, the arts, and culture from a very young age. He was raised in a modest family setting, closely tied to rural labor and community life. He was primarily brought up by his mother, who assumed sole responsibility for the household.

His childhood was spent with his siblings, observing and learning from them at a very young age. Even without formal schooling, he learned by watching his older brothers perform tasks, which allowed him to develop reading, arithmetic, and mathematical reasoning skills early on. Thanks to this natural curiosity and his learning capacity, he knew how to read, add, and multiply from a young age. At the age of 10, he formally began primary school, attending classes in Coronel Oviedo, where he completed the first grade. Later, along with his brothers, he moved to the city of Villarrica, located about 40 kilometers to the south, to continue his education, as only basic schooling was available in his community. There, he completed up to the third grade.

However, his education was abruptly interrupted by the start of arrests and conscription for the Chaco War (1932–1935). His older brothers were called up for military training, and having no one to stay with in Villarrica, Virgilio returned to his home in Plácido to accompany and care for his mother. Upon reaching the required age and faced with the growing need for soldiers, he voluntarily enlisted for military service, presenting himself to defend his country. He began his service in the War Quartermaster Corps, where he performed essential logistical functions for the battlefront, such as the provision of uniforms, ammunition, medicine, and weapons. Later, he was assigned to the Navy, navigating the Pilcomayo River on inspection missions of the conflict zone. He subsequently served as a combatant in the 10th Infantry Regiment “Sauce,” whose mission was to halt the Bolivian advance towards Fort Alihuatá, under the command of Commander Crisóstomo López. In April 1935, while on the front lines, he fell ill and was unable to continue serving as a soldier, prompting him to return to the Military Hospital for a three-month rest. Due to the war, he lost the hearing in one ear, and his eyesight was also affected. Once he recovered, he was called to work in the military quartermaster’s office due to his self-taught skills in writing and calculations. After his recovery, he returned to his community of Plácido, where he was visited by his brother Narciso, also a combatant, who informed him that the war had ended.

In September 1940, he married María Santa López Martínez, with whom he had six daughters: Tomasa, Nimia, Francisca, Apolonia, Dominga, and Sara. They shared 76 years of marriage until María Santa’s death in June 2017. After the war, he settled in his native Plácido, where he focused on trading local fruits, tobacco, petitgrain essence, and buying and selling cattle, among other activities. Over the years, he emerged as a community leader and successfully organized the community to build a primary school, which has provided education for over seven decades. Eventually, he acquired a property in the central neighborhood of Capitán Roa. As a prominent social worker, he was arrested several times by the police under the Stronista regime (1954–1989) due to his liberal activism and social stance. In this period, he worked closely with the American priest, Father Eugene Connolly, at the San Pedro parish. His mother passed away at the age of 82 at her home in Plácido, marking the end of a profoundly significant chapter in his life.

Despite all that was achieved during three years of war, he reflected on his experiences and expressed that he was never happy with what he had endured, describing the conflict as a painful “appendix” for all Paraguayans. He urged young people to understand the true meaning of war and its motivations, noting that he often saw them fighting for trivial reasons. He emphasized that battles should not be waged for insignificant matters.

Virgilio recalled that he has always been an active person. For much of his life, he chose to travel long distances walking or by bicycle. Despite his time in the war, he led an active but peaceful life, free of excesses. His diet, for his entire life, had been varied, balanced, and free of vices. He was always known for his disciplined approach to good habits, which significantly contributed to his longevity and vitality.

On his 107th birthday, members of a reserve corps serenaded him with a band, playing marches and patriotic songs, as well as singing the traditional birthday song “Happy Birthday.” He was presented with a certificate of gratitude and recognition. Meanwhile, the governor of Caaguazú, Alejo Ríos Medina (PLRA), who also came to greet him, gifted him an Olimpia t-shirt, honoring the club of which he is a fan. In July 2024, the Chamber of Deputies decided to award him the National Order of Merit “Comuneros.”

On the occasion of his 111th birthday, Virgilio received an emotional tribute at his own home in Coronel Oviedo, when the musician and composer Francisco Russo visited him personally, a gesture that represented a profound recognition of his life, his history and his legacy. At 111 years old, Virgilio still performed most of his daily activities independently, such as eating, bathing, and walking short distances within his home, although he needed assistance from his family for some tasks. He loved going for walks, and spending time with his family.

At the age of 111, he had 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Virgilio Dávalos Rey passed away in Coronel Oviedo, on 28 February 2026, at the age of 111 years, 143 days.