Olga Ramirez Gallegos

Olga worked at the Pentagon during World War II. During the 1970’s, Olga moved to Brownsville, TX with her husband who served as Fire Chief. She formed the first Firefighter’s Ladies Auxiliary in Brownsville. Upon her return to Houston in 1980, Olga served as an Administrative Aide to State Representatives Ben Reyes, Al Luna and Roman Martinez. She also served on the HISD School Board for 16 years (1987-2003) having served in numerous positions on the board, including that of president in 1998. Olga was also a past member of the Houston Community College Board of Trustees. She received numerous recognitions and awards for her community activities including the Fiestas Patrias Mexican-American Award and the Metro 2000 La Familia Award.

Olga was an active member of the Harris County Democratic Party and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York City and an alternate delegate with the Texas Challenging Delegation to the 1968 convention in Chicago. She was the first Hispanic Precinct Judge in Precinct 64 in Magnolia Park neighborhood in Houston. She would want everyone to know that she voted by mail ballot for the upcoming General Election. She was a member of the American Legion Post 472 Ladies Auxiliary. Olga was a devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and aunt to many Houston Firefighters. She was “Mom” to many of her children’s and grandchildren’s friends and always gave them advice or told them stories about how things were in the early days. Olga will be remembered as an exemplary Hispanic role model, a source of strength and inspiration to others.

Predeceased by parents, Elias and Isabel Ayala Ramirez; husband, Mario Gallegos, Sr.; son, State Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.; daughter, Lillian Gallegos Villarreal; grandson, Robert Gallegos; great-grandson, Alex Holiman; 12 siblings, brother and sister in-laws, and her beloved pet, Guera. Survived by children, Maria Gallegos (Sam), Olga McGee (Jack), Joel Gallegos, Michael Gallegos and Cynthia Gallegos-Trevino; daughter-in-law, Theresa Gallegos; son-in-law, Johnny Villarreal, Sr.; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brother, Joe Ramirez, Sr.; brother and sister in-laws, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers (Grandchildren): Juan Emiliano Gallegos, Michael Rodriguez, Mario Gallegos, III, Adrian Trevino, Johnny Villarreal, Jr., and Adrian Garza. Honorary Pallbearers: Joel Gallegos, Michael Gallegos, Joe Ramirez, Sr., Jack McGee, Johnny Villarreal, Sr., Sam Moses and Joe Louis Rodriguez.

The family wishes to thank everyone for your prayers, support and kind words during our Mom’s illness and at this difficult time. We also thank longtime physician, Dr. Cynthia Williams, home health caregivers, Alex Azofeifa and Luiz Toliver, and numerous other doctors and nurses that assisted in her care.

Visitation will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, on Friday, October 28, 2016 from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. with the Rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. Funeral services will also be at Forest Park Lawndale Saturday, October 29, 2016, at 10 a.m. with burial to follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception afterwards at American Legion Post 472, 7599 Ave. C. Obituary, pictures and memorial guestbook available online at www.forestparklawndalefh.com.

Donations may be made in Olga’s memory to Gallegos Elementary School, 7415 Harrisburg Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77011.