Joe Ramirez

Joe “Little Joe” Ramirez was born December 29, 1922, at home and raised in Hillsboro, Texas, the fifth son of Lorenzo Ramirez and Juanita (Rizo) Ramirez. He passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of August 12, 2020, in Itasca, TX. Joe was a member of Line Street United Methodist Church in Hillsboro, TX.  A graveside funeral service was conducted by Reverend Melissa Graham on August 17 at Hillcrest Garden of Memory near Hillsboro, with COVID-19 precautions.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, six brothers and three sisters - Louis Ramirez,  Dionisia (Nita) Ledesma, Vicente Ramirez, Nick Ramirez, Joseph Ramirez, Steven Ramirez, Daniel Ramirez, Naomi Gonzales, Carmen Rizo Dills. Joe is survived by sisters Amelia Reyes, Denver CO, Margaret Gonzales and Josephine Torres, Hillsboro; sisters-in-law Betty Ramirez, Hillsboro and Frances Ramirez, Mishawaka Indiana. Little Joe was well loved by the children of his siblings:  Louis Ramirez Jr. and Karen (Sissy) Mitchell, Mary Helen Torres, Albert Salmeron (dec.), Angelina (Angie) Sosa, Samuel Salmeron and Rosie Ramirez (dec.), Richard Ramirez (dec.), Rosemary Ramirez, Mary Helen Young, Mario Ramirez (dec.), Isaac Ramirez, Diana Escamilla, Laura Montes, Margaret Ramirez, Gloria Barajas, Estella Rodriguez, Josie Ramirez, Danny Ramirez, Michael Ramirez, Norma Kouns, Esperanza (Hope) Medellin, Sophia Flores, Patsy Salas, Daniel Ramirez, Rachel Herrera, Brenda Savala, Eric Gonzales, Dale Dills, Gil Reyes, Dondi Reyes, Elizabeth Gonzales (dec.), Elaine Carlton, Carmen Torres, Janie Torres (dec.), many loved nieces and  nephews especially Sam Peῆa.  Little Joe always had a smile and time to listen to the younger generations.

Joe had a wandering spirit as a young man and was seen by his sister Amelia as she walked home from school riding on the back of the train with Nick going to some adventure. He also had artistic skills in drawing and wood carving.   He spoke of seeing a young boy Willie Nelson singing at Rosie’s in the town of West.  He graduated from Hillsboro High School and before the war worked across the country as a pipefitter with brothers Louis and Steven.   After the attack on Pearl Harbor they returned home.

Little Joe was a member of the “Greatest Generation” that fought the Axis powers – Japan, Germany and Italy who sought world domination during the second World War. He was a tail-gunner in the Army Air Corp until his fighter plane was shot down by the enemy. The pilot was able to land the plane yet only Joe and the pilot survived. He then was assigned to General Patton’s 3rd Army troops as a Medium Tank Crewman in the Battle of the Bulge and marched all the way across Europe to Africa fighting the Nazis.  His unit along with Russian Army units liberated human beings in POW - Concentration camps.  Joe ended up stationed at Command Headquarters in France where Allied Commanders were based.  Little Joe used this opportunity to ask if they knew how his brothers were and where they were fighting.  All seven of the Ramirez boys served in the military during WWII and returned home safely.  Their history of service to their country is preserved in the Texas Heritage Museum at Hill College, Hill County Cell Block Museum and in our hearts.  Rest in peace brother, uncle, cousin and friend.   Descansa en paz.

Memorials may be made in Joe’s name to Line Street United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 1665, Hillsboro, TX 76445 (254) 580-9733.