Fortunato "Fred" Ernest Ramirez

Fortunato Ernest Ramirez was born in the neighborhood of Barelas in Albuquerque, NM on April 2, 1920.

He was a hard worker starting at the early age of 13. He worked as a caddy at the Albuquerque Country Club. He would carry clubs for 18 holes and get paid $.75 per customer.

From there he became the groundskeeper for the Albuquerque Dukes Stadium which was across the street from his parents’ house on Atlantic.

Fortunato loved his parents; most of his paycheck, if not all, went to support his family.

Fred, as most people called him, went to Albuquerque High in 1937 where he met the love of his life, Melecia. They both loved to travel all over New Mexico. There was hardly a weekend where they didn’t go camping and fishing somewhere in New Mexico.

Fred loved the journey more than the destination.

Dad became part of the Greatest Generation, stationed in Tinian during World War II. He was part of the bomb squadron and was in charge of three other men who fused and prepared bombs for placement in the bomb bays of the B 17’s.  These were no small bombs!  Fred loved the art on the bombers he worked on each day.

Dad served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945.

After the war, Dad came back to Albuquerque and worked at Korber’s for 10 years. In 1950 he bought a house in one of the first northeast developments called Bel Air where he lived out the rest of his life.

Fred started working at Sandia Base as a metal clerk and retired from there.

Fred and Melecia raised four children, Larry, Rebecca, Anna and Virginia.  Fred had many grandkids and great-grandkids.

Fred loved the Cubs and he loved his beer.

At age 98, on August 22, 2018 Fred said his goodbyes and started his last and greatest journey to see his wife and family.

Graveside Services will be held Wednesday, September 5, 2018, 10:30 a.m., at Santa Fe National Cemetery.