February 17, 1949 – January 7, 2023
Georgia was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the proud parents of Clayton Arthur Arnold and Hulda Ann Saam. Growing up her family lived in Minnesota, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, and lastly Wyoming. As the oldest sibling it was often her job to watch over her brothers and sister while her mother and father sang and played the piano as a side job in the evenings. With music in her blood, Georgia eventually got a full voice scholarship to attend college at Oberlin in Ohio. While in college she discovered her true passion was education. She changed majors and graduated with a bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential. She took her first job offer after graduation in California.
In California she worked as both an elementary school teacher and band instructor. She began teaching in Richgrove, and then soon taught in Earlimart, and finally taught in Delano. While teaching she also earned her Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from CSU Bakersfield. She taught bilingual education for many years. Eventually she retired from education after teaching for more than 30 years.
Georgia settled in Delano, California, and it was here that she met her husband Ernesto Alvarez Ramirez and soon started a family. In addition to being a mother and teacher she was an active member of her community. She helped teach Sunday school, catechism, and choir, and also sang in the adult choir at Saint Mary’s Church. She was a member of Delano’s PEO chapter, a philanthropic educational organization, which raises money to aid students in their educational pursuits. She volunteered to be a judge for Delano’s Music Memorial, and was also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, a sorority which raises money to aid schools and students. She also made it a point to donate towards organizations that she loved and respected such as the Audubon Society, the World Wildlife Federation, and St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
Of all her activities, spending time with her grandchildren was her favorite. She was often traveling between cities to make sure time was spent with everyone. Georgia had a membership to CALM and it was the favorite spot to bring the family. Chasing after the grandchildren as they visited animals and rode on countless train rides was often how they spent their free time. She was a beloved and cherished mother, grandmother, and wife.
Georgia is survived by her daughter Robyn Ann Gallo (Felipe Gallo Jr.), and son Aaron Clayton Ramirez (Serina Fatima Ramirez); grandchildren Elyse Ann Gallo, Elijah Gabriel Gallo, Gabrielle Rae Ramirez, Danielle Madison Ramirez, Benjamin Flynn Ramirez; sister Amy Hemingway (Steve Hemingway), and brothers Howard Arnold (Christie Arnold), Mark Arnold (Jennifer Arnold), and Matt Arnold (Joann Arnold). She was preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, Ernesto Alvarez Ramirez.
A viewing and rosary will be held at Del Angel Funeral Home in Delano on Friday, February 3 at 3pm. The mass will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Saturday, February 4 at 8am. The burial will follow at North Kern Cemetery in Delano.
Serving as pallbearers are Aaron Clayton Ramirez, Felipe Gallo Jr. , Mark Arnold, Mathew Arnold, Andres Gomez and Thomas Rodriguez.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.delanomortuary.com for the Ramirez family. Services entrusted to Funeraria Del Angel Delano, a Dignity Memorial provider.
