Ramon Restituto Diaz Jr.

Ramon Restituto Diaz, Jr., aged 91, passed away peacefully at home on July 24, 2017. He grew up in Memphis where he bicycled a paper route and loved playing outdoor games. He attended Rozelle Grade School, Belleview Junior High, and Christian Brothers High School. After he graduated from the Columbia Military Academy in 1944, Ramon was drafted into the Navy. He spent most of his time on a troop carrier in the Pacific, participating in amphibious landings. Following his discharge from the Navy, he attended Ole Miss. After college, Ramon married his late wife of fifty years, Peggy Russell of Biloxi, MS. They had three children.

Ramon began his lifelong career as a sales representative in the furniture industry working at Hungerford Furniture Manufacturers in Memphis. He later had successful careers with Lane Company, Bernhardt Hibriten Furniture Company, and Stanley Furniture Company. His career brought him to Cincinnati for ten years and Louisville for thirty. Because of his outgoing personality and genuine fondness of people, he developed many lifelong friendships throughout the furniture industry and in his personal life. To quote a friend, “He liked people more than anyone I ever knew. He was a true people person.”

In Cincinnati, Ramon was an active member of Northminster Presbyterian Church where he met some of his dearest friends. While residing in Louisville, Ramon was a member of Beargrass Christian Church. There he was president of Friendship Class and served as a deacon and elder. He was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by the governor for his significant community service. He moved back to Memphis to care for his mother, Charlotte, when she became ill. He rejoined Lindenwood Christian Church where his parents, Charlotte and Ramon, had been members since 1952. Ramon served on the Board at Lindenwood and was a Life Elder, president of Friendship Class, and Elder Emeritus.

He loved watching sports, especially Louisville Cardinal basketball and Ole Miss Rebels football. He also enjoyed washing whatever cars were in his driveway or garage, often several times a week. It became a happy joke that often on birthdays and Fathers Days, he received the necessary items for that task. Ramon was very knowledgeable regarding locations, products, and the financial performance of almost any company.

Ramon is survived by his wife of seventeen years, Arlene (nee Saum); his children, Alicia Padgett (Tom) of Springdale, AR; Linda Smith (Tom) of Louisville, KY; and Ramon Diaz, III, (Sherry) of Mobile, AL; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, July 28 at Lindenwood Christian Church. Visitation will be at 10:00 am, and a memorial service followed by lunch will begin at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Lindenwood Christian Church.