Jose M. Ruiz

Jose M. Ruiz, 95, of Casa Grande died Sept. 6, 2008 at Chandler Regional Hospital.


Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel, with rosary recited at 7. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church by the Rev. Ignatius DeGroot. Burial will be in Eloy Memorial Park.

Mr. Ruiz was born in San Bernardino, Calif. He owned and operated an olive farm in Porterville, Calif., for many years. He was a Boy Scout leader there.

He moved to Arizona in 1970. He worked for many years for the parks and recreation departments in Porterville and Eloy. He loved fishing, hunting and camping. He was devoted to his family and was known as "Grandpa Joe." He also enjoyed gardening and drawing.

Survivors include two daughters, Adele Ramirez of Casa Grande and Endina Bonaham of Stockton, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Lucille Wallace of San Antonio, Texas, and Irene Zuniga of Lodi, Calif.; a son, Jose Ruiz Jr. of Porterville; a stepson, Valentine Zuniga of San Linas, Calif.; two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild in Casa Grande and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren in California. His wife, Margarita (Gaitan) Ruiz, died in 2003.