Emilio Ramirez was born to Vicente Ramirez and Silvino Milagrosa on 2/20/1924 in Infanta, Pangasinan, Philippines, joining his siblings Evangelista, Marina, Consolacion, and Pening.  He joined the US Navy in 1945 during World War Two at age 21 as a steward and left the Philippines for Europe with the new name of Roy Ramirez Senior.  His story was that  he loved Roy Rogers the American cowboy/actor.

Shortly after joining the Navy he married Violeta Milanio also from Infanta, Pangasinan.  He and Violeta had three of their six children in the Philippines- Rhonda, Richard Gregory, and Roy Junior. When Rhonda was four years old, in 1957, the family moved to Vallejo, California where Roy was stationed at Mare Island Naval shipyard.  The first child born in the US was Amerigo Emilio in 1959, followed shortly by Kenneth Llewellyn in 1960 and Sylvannah Sue in 1962.

In 1963 Roy was transferred to Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii.   During his 30 years in the Navy, Roy was assigned to a number of ships and submarines including the USS Anthedon, USS Orion, USS Oriskany, USS Bonefish and USS Grayback.  Duty stations also included Sangley Point in the Philippines and Guam. Retirement from 30 years active duty in 1975 led to a continuation of the work he loved as a yeoman first class.  He remained on Mare Island as an administrative personnel supervisor for an additional 18 years.

Roy and Violeta were married for 70 years. They have 13 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and one great great grandson.  Roy passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 5, 2019. As the beloved patriarch of the family his legacy will live on forever.  He will be greatly missed.

The viewing will take place at Vaca Hills Chapel, 524 Elmira Road, Vacaville, on Wednesday, October 16th from 5 PM to 8 PM. The rosary prayer is scheduled  for 6 PM.

Mass at St. Mary's Church, 350 Stinson Avenue, Vacaville, will be on Thursday, October 17 at 11 AM and burial is at the National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon at 12:30 PM.

A celebration of the life of Roy Ramirez Senior will take place at 5032 Poplar Road, Vacaville, at 2pm following the burial on October 17.