Soldier killed in Iraq is Lake County pastor’s son

MASCOTTE (FBW) - Army Specialist Eric Ulysses Ramirez, son of Lake County pastor Felix Ramirez, was killed Feb. 12 in an ambush west of Baghdad, Iraq. He was 31. Ramirez, who grew up in Mount Dora, died of multiple wounds he received near the Abu Ghraib Prison, when attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades, explosive devices and small arms at his California National Guard unit, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

After serving in the U.S. Navy, Eric Ramirez worked as a deputy sheriff in San Diego County. His Guard unit, the 670th Military Police Co. was called up one year ago and is scheduled to return home in six weeks.

Eric Ramirez spent Christmas with Tracy, his wife of almost three years, and the couple’s two children, Isis, almost two, and Chase, three months. The young family has been living near her parents in Wisconsin while Ramirez was in Iraq. Tracy and the children flew to Florida Feb. 15 to visit Felix and Maria Ramirez and prepare for Eric’s funeral. Felix Ramirez, pastor of La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Mascotte since 1989, plans to conduct the funeral at his church, according to Rafael de Armas, a long-time family friend.

De Armas, director of missions of Peace River Baptist Association, led the elder Ramirez couple to the Lord in the mid-1960’s and performed their wedding ceremony. He also participated in their daughter’s recent wedding.

"I spoke with Felix after they found out about Eric’s death, and they had arranged for others to preach for him on Sunday, but they were still planning to drive children to church in the church van," de Armas said.

Pastor Ramirez, who serves Primera Iglesia bi-vocationally, is a reading teacher at Tavares Middle School and Maria works in the Lake County School Board office. They moved from Mount Dora to Mascotte two years ago.

Lake County director of missions Donald Miller filled Felix Ramirez’ pulpit Sunday morning. He reported the church family is rallying around its long-time pastor.

"Felix has been there so long that the church family really is family," Miller said. "Maria was comforted [Sunday] by church and family members who had brought pictures of Eric. They are going to be alright because they know Eric was a Christian and they affirm that he is in heaven."

According to de Armas, the family is awaiting the transportation of Eric Ramirez’ body to Tampa and then to Mascotte, before military funeral arrangements are finalized. Burial will be in the National Cemetery in Bushnell.