ELKHART -- Robert J. "Bob" Ramos, 55, of Stevens Avenue, died Wednesday (Oct. 22, 2008) at 8:25 p.m. at Elkhart General Hospital after an extended illness.

He was born May 6, 1953, in Chicago to Julio and Oralia (Silva) Ramos. He married Hortense Hernandez on Jan. 12, 1996, in Wheaton, Ill.

She survives as well as a brother, Benedict "Benny" Ramos of Chicago, and his father, of Monterrey, Mexico.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Julio Ramos Jr., and his mother.

Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, is handling arrangements. There will be visitation an hour before the mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elkhart. The Rev. Kevin Bauman will officiate and mass will be given in Spanish. Burial will follow at the veteran's section at the Prairie Street Cemetery, where the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard and Elkhart DAV Chapter 19 will render graveside military honors.

Mr. Ramos grew up in Chicago, where he was very active in his local parish as an acolyte and altar boy. He joined the U.S. Army in the early 1970s, becoming a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and serving in Greece, Spain and Panama. He served many years and left after suffering a disabling injury on a jump. He then became a machine operator, working for several Chicago area industries, and also served as police officer in Rockford, Ill. and Beloit, Wis., over the next 30 years. He had only recently moved to the Elkhart area to be with family and had worked as a truck driver until retiring early due to illness. He enjoyed his family, working out at the YMCA, raising pitbull terriers and boxers and two pets, a pitbull named Bumper and a chihuahua named Lil' Gaby.

Memorials may be given to the Robert J. Ramos Memorial Fund in care of Billings Funeral Home. Online condolences can reach the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.