Ramiro Pantoja Jimenez

To Ramiro Jimenez, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he lived life to the full. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Ramiro, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Ramiro really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Ramiro was born on June 30,1930 at home in Richgrove, California. His parents were Trinidad and Mercedes. Ramiro was raised in Richgrove. Even as a child, Ramiro had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture the heart of those around them.

Always a good playmate, Ramiro was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Ramiro managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Ramiro was raised with three siblings. He had a younger brothers Tony and Trini.

All of Ramiro's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Ramiro experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in baseball. In his spare time he liked music and played the trumpet.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Ramiro was a person easy to be around. Ramiro simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Ramiro, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Ramiro's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Ramiro graduated from Delano High in 1947. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was science. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs O'Leary. He also played in the school band.

Ramiro reveled in his college years, where his imagination could run free. He was viewed by many of his classmates as being a creative, optimistic person. Ramiro was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. He was a jovial person who loved to share his passion for life with others. But for Ramiro, life was not a case of all play and no work. Ramiro relished the task of putting his imagination to work in class. He was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. He earned his B. A. In Food Science. His favorite course was science. Ramiro belonged to the Newman Club.

Ramiro never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Ramiro to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Ramiro delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Ramiro was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Ramiro utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Johnny Garcia and May Garcia. Later in life, he became friends with Johnny Garcia. Ramiro loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Ramiro very easy to approach. On November 24, 1952 Ramiro exchanged wedding vows with Natalie Heredia at Justice of the Peace Reno, Nevada and St. Mary's Catholic Church. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Ramiro related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Ramiro was blessed with three, Marc, Howard and Pauline. Ramiro had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Ramiro's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Ramiro had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Ramiro was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Ramiro liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems,Ramiro was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Ramiro's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Ramiro as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was as a vitner. He was employed for and retired from Constellano Winery as the Vice President of Sales and continued consulting after retirement.

Ramiro was in the Army . He was stationed in Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Captain.

Ramiro enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were reading. Ramiro was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Ramiro had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Ramiro’s service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. In college, Ramiro joined the Newman Club. Throughout his later years, Ramiro was an active member of the Cub Scouts.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Ramiro recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Living life in the fast lane suited Ramiro just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Carmel, Monterey, Nappa Valley, San Diego, and San Jose.

Ramiro was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Ramiro's favorites was John, his poodle. They were best friends for 15 years. His family was rounded out by his pets Mickey, Leslie, China and Rosie.

Ramiro believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2003, Ramiro took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to Visalia. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Ramiro remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in building a beautiful home. Even in retirement, Ramiro continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Ramiro passed away on November 17, 2010 at Visalia. Complications from several strokes. He is survived by his beloved wife, Natalie, children Marc, Howard, and Pauline, grandchildren-Jacqueline, Christian and Marissa and brother Trini Jimenez. Services were held at St. Mary's. Ramiro was laid to rest in Visalia District Cemetery.

Ramiro brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Ramiro Jimenez lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

Services will be held on Monday November 29th at 10:00 AM at St Mary's Catholic Church.