Eduardo Santillan

Eduardo (Chon) Encarnacion Santillan, was born in Harlingen, TX and passed away unexpectedly at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA on November 22, 2021, at the age of 26 years old. On this day he succumbed to his injuries in midflight and lost his life to save another and through death he gave the ultimate gift of life.

Born on December 29, 1994, to Juana Lopez and deceased, Eduardo Santillan, he was later blessed with Ricardo Lopez to guide him through life. Eduardo was a graduate of Forest High School and a resident of Ellijay, GA. Eduardo (Chon) was known for his vibrant spirit, encouraging words, goofiest laugh that could ring through the building, mischievous behavior, and his quirkiest jokes. When he saw Ricardo play soccer at 8 years old, his passion for soccer was ignited and into middle school his love for football grew. He immediately became obsessed with the game, and no matter if he was on the field or on the sidelines you could always catch him hyping up his teammates. Eduardo displayed such leadership on and off the field and would remind the newcomers on the team that they would have to earn his brother's colors. His biggest saying was, "You gotta earn that fam." Off the field you could find him in the classroom showing off his mad math skills without using a calculator or being the class clown. Some of Chon's favorite activities included spending as much time with family and especially his children, nieces, and nephews, to the point that "Familia" would be forever engraved on him. Chon's demeanor was so contagious that you couldn't help but fall in love with him. Chon loved being outdoors, hiking, playing in creeks, exploring caves, and making his family and friends laugh. Our family was not expecting the loss of Chon or for his life to be cut short so soon. But even though our world became a little dimmer the day he took his last breath, the stars and heavens became brighter with him in it.

Eduardo Santillan was proceeded in death by Eduardo Santillan, Enrique Alejandro Ramirez, Dylan James Morales, Saul Ramirez

Eduardo Santillan was survived by his beautiful sons who were his world: Rio Antonio and Eduardo Sebastian Santillan; grandparents, San Juana Castaneda-Ramirez, Bartola Ayala Colunga-Santillan, Encarnacion T. Santillan; parents Juana and Ricardo Lopez; sisters: Linda Ramirez (Brian Renfroe), Rachel Ramirez (Jaython Massey), Raven Santillan (Israel Garcia); nieces: Kaylynn Ramirez, Ava Renfroe, Addylynn Massey, nephews: Austin Stacy, Israel Garcia Jr and Marc-Oliviere Garcia; along with multiple loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Services will be held at Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Latino Americana in Ellijay, GA on Sunday, November 28, 2021. Followed by a burial service presented by Ott and Lee Funeral Home at the Eastern Cemetery where he will be laid for his eternal rest in Forest, MS on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Eduardo carried a prayer card with his favorite verses.
"God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"God.... for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins." Ephesians 2:4-5

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? I am pursued, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor death, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God." Romans 8:35-39

P.S. If you see a turtle, please pick it up: it may be Chon.