Betty Ramirez

Betty Ringo Ramirez died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday May 8th 2013 at The Bridges in Mission. She lived a good earthly life for nearly 89 years and will live forever in the world of light accompanied by her husband Alfonso, her father and mother, John and Ruth, along with brothers John and Tom. She was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 1924 and spent her formative years in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1944 her neighbor's son was killed in pilot training, and the young Air Force officer---Alfonso Ramirez---who escorted the body home to Birmingham would become her husband. Homonyms were key to their meeting. After the airman's funeral, in a display of southern hospitality, neighbors offered Ramirez a chance to meet a southern belle. He looked over a list of names of young ladies. He chose Betty Ringo, because her last name sounded like (Fort) Ringgold, a place familiar to him. That choice soon led to a marriage that lasted 65 years and a family of four sons all of whom survive their mom: David (Gracie) of Buda, Robert (Elvia) of McAllen, Steven (Valerie) and Daniel (Mari), both of Edinburg. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Mom spent the last five years of her life receiving excellent care at The Bridges in Mission, and was affectionately known as "Queen of the Pink Wing." She was sweet and sour, and sometimes cantankerous would be a kind way to describe her. But those ladies, especially Veronica Melendez loved her and several said "I want to be like Betty when I get old." At one activity at The Bridges, residents made small posters with their picture and a few things special about each of them. Valerie Ramirez enriched that poster with some of mom's other qualities and accomplishments: • A "Southern Belle" for the phone company. • Baked killer granola with apricots. • Never forgot to send a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion. cards to her family and friends. • Learned Spanish. • Raised 4 boys. • Loved Psalms 100. • Worked many long hours at polling stations during elections. • Served on many juries including federal cases in Brownsville. • Baked communion bread for her church—St. Mathews Episcopal. • Played the piano. • Sewed. • Gardened and kept the yard up. • Wrote a society column for "The Daily Review." Friends are cordially invited to attend a visitation with the family on Sunday, May 12th 2013 between the hours of five and nine o'clock in the evening at Legacy Chapels, 4610 S. Jackson Rd., Edinburg, TX. A prayer service will take place at seven o'clock in the evening and will be available online at www.legacychapelsrgv.com. The Funeral Service will commence at one o'clock in the afternoon on Monday, May 13th 2013 at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Funeral Services are under the direction of Legacy Chapels in Edinburg.