Joseph Carranza Ramirez, 81 of River Road, Hickory died Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at Frye Regional Medical Center. Born, September 25, 1929, he was the son of the late Aristeo Ramirez & Elisa Carranza. In addition to his wife, Gloria Salinas Cortez Ramirez of the home; a daughter, Josefina Ramirez of Uplan, California; three step daughters, Luz Maria Marin of Hickory, Irma Aguilar of Pomona, California, Gloria Avendano of Hickory; a son, Richard Aguilar of Watagua, Texas; four sisters, Esperanza Lopez, Virginia Garcia, Mary Lou Ramirez & Agustina Delsi, all of Rancho Cucamonga, California; four brothers, Rudy Ramirez, Richard Ramirez, Rueben Ramirez & Florentino Ramirez, all of Rancho Cucamonga, California; and 10 grand-children, Juan, Oscar, Rodrigo, Ricardo, Yvonne, Omar, Jasmin Dahlia, Daisy & Daniel survive him. The funeral will be 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 26, 2010 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hickory. Father John Pierre will officiate. Memorials may be made to St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 921 2nd Street N.E. Hickory, NC 28601. Condolence messages may be sent to www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Ramirez family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Newton.