Manuel R. Ramirez

ELOY - Manuel R. "Manny" Ramirez, 77, died March 27, 2009.


Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at St. Helen of the Cross Catholic Church, with rosary recited at 7. Funeral Mass will be celebrated there at 9 a.m. Wednesday by the Rev. Rudy Rosales. Burial will be in Eloy Memorial Park.

Mr. Ramirez was born Nov. 15, 1931 in Eloy and was a son of Manuel and Carmen. He attended Eloy schools and graduated from Santa Cruz Valley Union High School in 1951. He worked as a projectionist at the Dust Bowl Theater while in high school and joined the Army after graduation. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service before retiring in 1986.

His hobby was genealogy and he was proud to be a fifth-generation Arizonan, going back to territorial days. He was especially proud of his copy of the petition for statehood signed by his great-great-grandfather, Teodoro Ramirez. He was devoted to his family and loved being with the children.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Carolina; two sons, Manuel of Tucson and Danny of Chandler; a sister, Dolores Gobea of Washington; one grandchild; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Cecilia Castro and Lupe Cocio.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Valley Chapel is in charge of arrangements.