June 25, 1932 - May 31, 2024

From:  RAYMOND E. RAMIREZ Obituary with edits & additions by Ken Martin.

Born in Northern California on June 25th, 1932, Raymond (Ed) Ramirez graduated from Oroville High School in 1957 [edit: 1957 is likely a mistake and should be 1950]. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in the Korean War aboard the USS Boxer. Ed board-tested an F4 Phantom, earning him the nickname "Supersonic Taco", honoring his Mexican heritage. He later graduated from California Polytechnic State College, San Luis Obispo, with a bachelors degree in aeronautical engineeringin in 1960.

After graduating, Ed went to work at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, as a systems flight test engineer, working on many flight test programs. In 1971 he attended the University of Southern California where he earned his masters degree in mechanical engineering. Later in his career he worked for the 6514 Test squadron at Hill AFB, Utah.

Upon retirement, he moved his family back to the Antelope Valley where he began working for Lockheed Martin on the Skunks Work program. Ed enjoyed working as a substitute mathematics teacher at Littlerock & Rosamond High Schools during his retirement. He was a beloved teacher who spent his lunchtime helping his students, especially his Spanish-speaking students. Ed had always been a sports fanatic and coached his sons in hockey and baseball. His favorite activities during retirement were hitting the golf course every day with his buddies, and watching the LA Kings and USC Trojans sports games.

Ed joins his mother Connie McKearney, sister Mary, and youngest son Bobby. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years Shirley Ann, sisters Jenny and Barbara, oldest son Eddie, daughter Teresa, granddaughters Makenna and Madison, and many others. Ed will be deeply missed as an incredibly loving husband and father who was funny, quick-witted, and lit up any room he was in. As Ed always said, hes "laughing, singing, and dancing" up in heaven.