Rafael Ramos

Retired Air Force Colonel Rafael Ramos, age 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 5th at WPAFB Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio.

Rafael was born on March 13th 1940 in Santurce, Puerto Rico to Rafael Ramos Raimundi and Isabel Acevedo Martinez. He grew up in Santurce, Puerto Rico and graduated from Einstein High School in Barrio Obrero, Puerto Rico in 1959. After high school he attended the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration along with a Commission in the USAF as a 2nd Lt. through the ROTC Program. As a senior at the UPR he held the position of Cadet Commandant. He then completed his military education and obtained his Master's in Education. Rafael was also a member of the Phi Delta Gamma fraternity.

During his military career he enjoyed being stationed at Forbes AFB in Topeka Kansas; Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona where he served two tours; Bitburg AFB, Germany; University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus as Commander of Air Force ROTC; US Embassy in Lisbon Portugal where he served two tours; Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, Japan; and Wright Paterson AFB where he also served two tours and retired from. He retired honorably from the USAF after 35 years of service, during which he traveled the world over and forged many wonderful friendships. Throughout his career he traveled and visited more than 60 countries. Rafael wanted to share the joy of traveling and experiencing different cultures with his family and took them around the world whenever he could.

After his retirement, Rafael had the fortune of working for the Brazilian Air Force Office at WPAFB for more than 25 years as an Advisor until his passing.

Rafael married the former Nydia Jove Rivera - the love of his life, soulmate and college sweetheart - in 1964 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. They were happily married for 55 years and had two wonderful daughters. He enjoyed running, playing racquetball and photography. His biggest passion, besides reading and singing, was being a husband and father.

Rafael is survived by his spouse, Nydia, his daughters, Astryd and Aimee, sister Minerva, and several cousins, nephews and other relatives. Rafael was preceded in death by his parents, Rafael and Isabel.

A funeral service provided by Newcomers will be held at WPAFB Prairies Chapel on Chapel Lane Riverside, Ohio. Visitation will commence at 9:30am on Wednesday October 9th, where the family will be greeting friends and relatives. Burial will follow the funeral at Dayton National Cemetery. The procession will start at 1:15pm towards Dayton.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project: 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300 Jacksonville , Fl 32256 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). Condolences may be left on Rafael Ramos' online guest book at Newcomers of Beavercreek.