Simon Navarro Ramirez
SANFORD, FL 18:45 Simon N. Ramirez, 75, born in Ozona, TX on October 6, 1950, was a longtime resident of Oviedo, Florida, sadly passed away on August 8, 2026 at 6:45PM, in Sanford, Florida. Simon was born to E.L. and Alica Ramirez on October 6, 1950, in Ozona, Texas, and was one of six children. In 1968, at 17 years old, Simon joined the United States Air Force, serving four years, most memorably at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand during the Vietnam War where he was assigned to the Avionics Maintenance Squadron as a IFF Equipment Technician working on systems on the F - 4 Phantom and C - 130 aircraft. Following his honorable discharge in 1972, Simon used the GI Bill to earn his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978. While attending the University of Texas at Austin, Simon was one of the early key members who worked alongside fellow students and UT staff to help establish what is known today as UT SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers). Through this work, Simon helped lay the foundation for an organization dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community through STEM education, opportunity, support, and professional development?a legacy that continues to impact future generations. Simon was also a proud member of TEXAS EXES, the University of Texas alumni association, and remained a devoted Longhorn football fan throughout his life. HOOK 'EM! Simon built a long career as an electrical engineer, working for Boeing, L3, Martin Marietta, and Lockheed Martin to name a few. As an electrical engineer, Simon played a key role in developing various US defense weaponry. It was at Martin Marietta that he met the love of his life, Karen Ramirez. The two married after just 3 months of dating in 1995 and built a life together filled with family, travel, laughter, and learning. Simon and Karen loved traveling overseas specifically to Europe, South and Central Americas. Simon was an engineer at heart even before he earned his degree. As a child he loved tinkering with anything that he could deconstruct. This continued well beyond retirement. If he did not know how to fix something, true to his engineering ways, he would research, plan, and execute with detailed logs. Simon also loved to learn. For the last several years he attended the University of Central Florida as an auditing student where he took courses of interest to keep a sharp mind. Simon is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Ramirez of Oviedo, FL; daughter, Catherine Gaillard, and her husband, Stroye; his granddaughters, Raelynn, her spouse, Alex Lake, and Arianna Gaillard all of Altamonte Springs, FL. Siblings Richard N. Ramirez, wife Shauna of Anchorage, AK, sister Viola R. Puga, husband Manny Puga of Wichita Falls, TX, sister Alice R. Acosta, husband Albert of Las Vegas, NV, sister Nancy Luna, husband Juan of Odessa, TX, sister - in - law Pam Ramirez Fannan, and aunt Rosa Navarro of Erving, TX . Simon was blessed with many nieces, nephews and cousins who he loved dearly. Preceding Simon in death is his beloved brother Eusebio N. Ramirez, mother and father. Those who knew Simon will remember his quirky and sometimes wonderfully inappropriate sense of humor, his unmistakable "tell it like it is" personality, and his endless curiosity. He loved U.S. history, aviation, flying small aircraft, photography, bicycling, long walks and frequent dog park visits with his favorite sidekick Ranger Danger, college football, engineering, learning how things worked, and researching just about anything that caught his interest. If Simon didn't know something, chances were good he was going to find out. Above all else, Simon loved his family. He deeply loved Karen and made sure she was never without, treasured the relationship he built with Catherine and Stroye, and absolutely adored his granddaughters, Raelynn and Arianna. In leu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter in Simon's honor.