Obituaries

Elk Grove Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Laid to Rest

Funeral services were held Friday morning in Elk Grove for a local soldier killed in Afghanistan earlier this month.

Army Spc. Ray Ramirez, 20, was killed on June 1 by an improvised explosive device in Wardak province, Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced.

He attended Florin High School, where he pitched for the Panthers baseball team. Numerous photos of his little league teams throughout the years are posted on a memorial Facebook page for Ramirez.

"As a boy I remember Joe saying, 'Let Ray pitch the ball to you one time,' " Goppy Quintero, Ramirez's uncle, wrote on the memorial page. "I said I was cool, I'm good ... I seen how that boy had an arm. I could hardy see the ball after he threw the ball. I remember looking at Joe like, **** I'm not dumb, that's going to hurt my hand."

Ramirez was stationed in Georgia and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan.

Did you know Ray? Share your memories of him in the comments section below.

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