RAMIRO RUBEN GUTIERREZ

1932 - 2023

Ramiro Ruben Gutierrez, 91, of Sonora, California, passed away peacefully at his home with family at his side after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 1, 1932, to Prudencio and Josefa Gutierrez in Houston, Texas. The family moved to Santa Clara, California, in 1947, and Ramiro graduated from Campbell High School in 1950. He joined the Marines in 1951 and fought in the Korean War with the "A" Company 1st Engineer Battalion and 1st Marine Division. While on leave in 1953, he worked for the Pratt-Low Company and met his soulmate, Lizbeth Rose Archibeque. They were married for 64 years and raised four children in San Jose, California.
In 2015 Ramiro and Lizbeth moved to Sonora to be close to family.
Most significant about Ramiro was how he devoted his entire life supporting his community faithfully and unselfishly by volunteering his time and knowledge, empowering people and improving lives around him. He and Lizbeth were avid supporters of workers rights, marching with Cesar Chavez to support the United Farm Workers Union. He was also active in church and many charity organizations, including the parish council at Transfiguration Catholic Church, the St. Vincent De Paul Society, United Way, and on the board of directors for Center for Employment Training (CET).
Ramiro worked at IBM for 30 years and retired as a manager in 1990, then moved to Madera, California, with his wife, where they continued their charitable activities, volunteering at Camarena Health Centers, in addition to working with the Madera Coalition for Community Justice and Latinas Unidas. They served many meals at the Lord's table. Ramiro was a member of the VFW and an honor guard commander. Ramiro was loved and respected by everyone he met.
Ramiro is survived by his children, Margie Cooper (Paul), Kathleen Gutierrez (Mark), John Gutierrez and Tommy Gutierrez (Debbie); four grandchildren, Sofia, Marina, Sean and Cierra; and two great-grandchildren, Giovanni and Indy. He is also survived by his sister, Hortencia Garcia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lizbeth, who passed away in 2018; brother Hector Gutierrez; and his son-in-law Ron Johnson.
There will be a memorial mass for Ramiro at noon Friday, April 14, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 127 W. Jackson St. in Sonora. In lieu of flowers, please donate to CET via the Lizbeth Rose Archibeque Gutierrez Memorial Fund online at cetweb.edu.