As his mother was a native of this country, most of his life was spent in Belize. He lived and worked in Honduras for a few years. Mr. Bernard C. O. Blanco was one of the outstanding persons who had an impact on his life.
He got married to Miss Eliza Marian Fuentes, daughter of Mr. Roman Fuentes and Mrs. Pasquala Fuentes of Stann Creek Town, on Monday, 16thFebruary 1914. Mrs. Eliza Marian Fuentes was born on Wednesday, 9thDecember and died on Monday, 23rdNovember 1970 at the age of 73.
Seven sons and five daughters were born out of this union. They are Isaac Jacob Joseph Ramos, Kline Harland Ephilstone Ramos, Elswith Viola Ramos, Thomas Tate Armstrong Ramos, Gadsby Clockstan Tilford Ramos, Carl Raymond Gustav Ramos, Abraham Lincoln Washington Ramos, Jewell Izetta Ramos married Lopez, Ward Bliss Beacher Ramos, Ruth Viola married Gentle, Pasquala Eliza Ramos married Blanco and remarried Glossie, and Dorcas Elswith Ramos married Higinio. Isaac, Kline, Elswith, Thomas and Gadsby are dead.
Mr. Ramos was also father of Jane Ramos and Naomi Ramos, two sisters of Dangriga. Miss Ellen of Honduras is another child.
My dear father was a devout Wesleyan Methodist and was a local preacher of the Stann Creek Methodist church.
He was a grocer, farmer, newspaper correspondent, seller, candy maker, Carib historian, entertainment producer, public speaker, boxing promoter, agent for soft drinks, agent for Lyons bread and bun, railway train conductor, ice cream vendor, peanut vendor, banana checker, Carib hymn writer, owner of a few horses, voluntary social worker and founder of the Independent Manhood and Exodus Uplift Society, the Colonial Industrial Instruction Association and Carib Settlement Day.
As a candy maker, he made molasses (poor man sweet), peanut cake (toffee), ?wangla? cake (toffee), caramel, butterscotch, and man face (a hand-sucker candy).
The games and sports he loved were draughts (checkers), boxing, cycle races, which he sponsored, football, and cricket.
His favorite aspirants were Darrell Alvin Diaz, Mr. Cornelius Patrick Cacho, Mr. Alfred ?Hombre? Francisco and Mr. Godsman Celestino Ellis. He used to speak highly of them to me.
He was naturalized a British subject in March 1954.
His character was his distinctive mark. He was strict, kind, sociable, industrious, erudite, patient, magnanimous, reliable, zealous, candid, religious, loyal, and patriotic. An outstanding thing about my father is that he was a great lover of mankind.
Mr. Thomas Vincent Ramos passed away on Sunday, 13thNovember 1955 at about 8:30 p.m. at his home in Stann Creek Town at the age of 68 years.
His crowded funeral service was conducted by Rev. Claude Cadogan, who paid special tribute to a great Methodist in the Stann Creek Methodist Church on Monday, 14thNovember 1955 (Prince Charles? Birthday).
His corpse was laid to rest in the Garden of Gethsemane Cemetery in Stann Creek Town.
His immortal character lives on and is worthy of emulation.
(Published in the AMANDALA on Friday, November 12, 1982)