Jose Donato Ruiz

1929 - 2015

Jose Donato Ruiz died peacefully at the age of 86 on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. Service: Entombment will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kan. Memorials: May be made to the Dallas VA Medical Center, 4500 S. Lancaster Road, Dallas, Texas 75216; or to Children's Education Program of Performing Arts Fort Worth at 817-212-4300 or at cepdonations@basshall.com. Jose was born Feb. 17, 1929, in Kansas City, Mo. He lived in Mexico for several years before returning to the U.S. in 1951. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. He did not consider himself a hero for his service, but rather as a man dutifully serving his country. He suffered from the scars of war, including PTSD, but went on to become a well-known musician (Joe Ruiz Trio) in the Kansas City area; a master plumber and owner of Southwest Mechanical; a lifetime member of Wyandotte Masonic Lodge #3; and a husband twice, moving with his second wife in 1982 to Arlington, where he made friends and participated in the Korean War Veterans Chapter 215. Special thanks to all the compassionate and kind caregivers in the Alpha and Charlie units of the VA Medical Center, and to Alan Klotz for his loyal 20-year friendship with Jose. Jose was preceded in death by his parents, Barbito and Concepcion Ruiz; sisters, Lupe and Teresa Ruiz Castro; wives, Grace D. Ruiz and Gloria Mildred Long; and son, Jeff Shireman. Survivors: Jose is survived by many proud family members, his sister, Celia Salinas; nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great-nephews; two grandsons; and extended family.