Timothy Arturo Ruiz

Timothy was a loving, caring, and fiercely protective soul. If you had the privilege of knowing him, you understood that beneath his strength was a heart full of love and a spirit that had endured more than most could imagine. Timothy was our little big brother.

Timothy’s life was marked by struggle, much of it shaped by a justice system that confined him from a young age. At just 14 years old, he was sent to a juvenile hall, a place meant to rehabilitate but instead became the beginning of a long journey behind bars. By the time he was released in his late 20s, the world had progressed, but he had never been given the tools to navigate it. The years of confinement left him institutionalized, making it nearly impossible to adapt to life outside the walls that had defined his existence for so long.

Despite the hardships he faced, Timothy carried within him an immense amount of love and untapped potential. He was skilled, intelligent, and capable of so much, but he struggled to find his place in a world that had never given him a fair chance. Timothy was a great artist, and that’s where his passion for tattooing was derived from. He had plans to use his passion to make a living. He was also an incredible storyteller; he had everyone at the edge of their seats. As he told his stories you were forced to recognize his ability to deliver his testimony with such conviction, it was something admirable to see. These stories weren’t always ones that made you happy, most of them were his own personal prison stories that were so detailed and unsettling, leaving us with one conclusion: the correctional facilities are corrupt and non-rehabilitating. The system had taken his freedom for years, but in many ways, it had also taken his sense of self, his ability to fully realize his gifts and contribute in the way he longed to.

Timothy’s story is one of resilience, love, and an unbreakable bond with those who truly knew him. Though life dealt him a difficult hand, he remained a person of deep emotion and loyalty. He may have faced challenges that many could never understand, but he was more than his struggles, he was a brother, a protector, and a person who loved deeply.

His memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him, a reminder of the strength he carried and the love he had to give.

You are always in our hearts, in spirit and in memory and you will always be our little big brother.

A visitation for Timothy will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary in the Cypress Chapel, 24145 Barton Rd, Loma Linda, CA 92354. A funeral mass will occur Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:01 PM at St. Catherine of Siena, 339 N Sycamore Ave, Rialto, CA 92376. A committal service will occur Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 3510 E. Washington Street, Colton, California 92324.