Porfirio "Pilo" Ramirez of Hondo, age 88, passed away Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. He was born in Biry, Texas, on Sept. 15, 1927, the son of Estevan and Maria Aguilar Ramirez. Pilo is preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 63 years, Maria "Bebita" Perez Ramirez; brothers, Norberto and Cipriano Ramirez; sisters, Julia R. (Delfino) Juarez and Lupe R. Dominguez; and brother-in-law, Fidel Ramirez. He is survived by his daughter, Delia (Robert) Ramirez Ramirez of San Antonio; son, Rolando Ramirez of Hondo; grandson that he raised, Ramsey (Connie) Ramirez; grandson, Randy (Rachel) Ramirez; granddaughter, Rhonda (Toby) Ramirez-Rehr; nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Andrea Ramirez Ramirez; half-brother, Ramiro M. Ramirez; brother-in-law, Salvador Dominguez; and sister-in-law, Mary Ramirez. As a child, Pilo worked in the crop fields, right along with his family. He quit school in the 6th grade, but he still kept on educating himself. From an early age, he had a great sense of responsibility. Early in his teens he worked wherever he could find a job to help support his mother and siblings. Even though he was only a teenager, he built his parents' tiny house. He went on to work at Universal Rundle for 39 years and 25 days. He was a very strong-minded man. Pilo loved playing baseball and was a pitcher for the Hondo Bears baseball team. In 1957 he began coaching Little League and Pony League and continued until the 1980s, getting to coach both his grandsons, Ramsey and Randy. He also enjoyed playing golf. In his later years, he still enjoyed watching sports on television. A loving and caring dad and grandpa, he worked hard to give his family everything he didn't have as a child. Pilo was thankful that God granted him the ability to take care of his wife the last eight years of her life. After her death in 2013, his health began to fail. Visitation will be Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6 to 8 p.m., at Guinn-Horger Chapel, with Rosary recited at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 11, at St, John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Interment will be at Hondo Cemetery, Guadalupe Section. Pallbearers are Zak Ramirez, Mike Rodriguez, DJ Rehr, Toby Rehr, Benny Ramirez, and Gilbert Sandoval.