Julio Ramirez Barron

Born May 24, 1927 in Mexico City to Antonio Ramirez Esparza (from Pinos Eduardo, Zacatecas) and Concepcion Barrón,de Ramírez (from Guadalupe, Zac.), he married Josephina Sánchez Coello in 1954 in Comonfort, Guanajuato, Mexico. He later married Beverly Seagraves in 1971 in Washington, IL

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bev; one infant daughter Jackie Barron; three brothers Marco Antonio, Antioco, and Jaime; and three sisters Teresa, Xochitl, and Concha; and one step-granddaughter Jessica McClymont.

“Pop” is survived by his sons: Antonio “Tony” Ramirez Barron (Susan Brill de Ramírez) of Princeville, IL and Julio (Kristen) Ramirez Barron of Madison, WI; one daughter: Julie (Mike) McClymont of Peoria, AZ; one grandson, Jose Guadalupe Ramirez of Princeville, IL, and one step-grandson, Travis McClymont of AZ.

He is also survived by his beloved sister Gloria in Mexico City; his devoted nephew Raul (Joy) Arana in El Paso, TX where “Pop” lived after he retired from Caterpillar until last year; Raul’s sisters in Mexico: Xochilita and Teresa (who lived with her Uncle Julio in Illinois for a number of years); his nephew Tony and niece Lynn in the United States; and many nephews, nieces and other relatives in Mexico.

He graduated with a degree in medicine from El Universidad Nacional Autonomo de Mexico in Mexico City, first working as a physician in Comonfort, Gto, Mexico. He then worked in a residency in the United States at the Illinois State Hospital in Galesburg, IL. He then joined his brother Dr. Antioco Ramirez Barron who was a psychiatrist at the Illinois State Mental Hospital in Bartonville.

Julio worked in private practice as a general practice physician in Washington, IL in the 1960’s where he also was a volunteer physician for the Washington Panthers high school football team. He later worked for many years as a plant physician and later retired as the Medical Director at the Caterpillar, Inc. facility in Mapleton where he specialized in occupational health and safety. There he started the EMT program and introduced the use of thermography to diagnose and treat repetitive stress injuries. He was a very loving and compassionate man who was always ready to help others in need.

He was an avid golfer, a tennis player, and, in his early years in Mexico, a semi-pro baseball pitcher. Julio loved his children, extended family, and friends deeply. He loved spending time with his dogs, especially Jazz, Jake, JR, and Katie, and he supported the work of a number of humane societies.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Washington, IL, the Illinois State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association.

His memorial service is at 3 p.m. Saturday April 21, 2012 at Surprise Funeral Care in Surprise, AZ. Interment of his cremated remains will follow, joining his wife Bev in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

Memorial contributions may be made to any animal humane society or animal shelter. Online tributes and condolences may be sent to the family at www.surprisefuneralcare.com