Joe Ramirez Reyna

Born: December 15, 1937

Passed: March 20, 2021

Joe Ramirez Reyna was born in Richmond, Texas in the winter of 1937. From a young age, there was something special about Joe. He was charismatic, charming, and one of the brightest people you would meet. Raised partially by his grandfather, Apolonio Ramirez, Joe learned the values of hard work, love, and service.

These values carried him into his young adult life when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. This decision would pave the way for Joe and lead him finding the love of his life, Dorlene Noe. At an army base in Kentucky, the two would cross paths. It was picturesque love at first sight. Joe knew that day he and Dorlene were destined to be married.

He believed so much, that he hopped on a bus to see her in West Virginia, asked for her hand in marriage, and together took a bus back down to Texas, where they put down their roots. Over the course of the next 63 years, they raised four children and established a home in Pasadena, Texas.

Joe completed his service in the U.S. Army, ranking as a Staff Sergeant and began to work at Kroger in the meat-cutting department. Once again, Joe, the service-oriented man he was, began to work his way up to best support and assist his fellow workers. He joined the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (Local 408), starting as a member before holding many positions, including Executive Vice President, Sec. Treasurer, and retiring as President.

This was one of many positions held by Joe. A list of positions and organizations he was affiliated with is here:

• United Way – Grantee Monitoring Committee, Planning Evaluation Admissions, Labor Advisory Committee

• Immigration & Naturalization SER – Advisory Committee

• Greater Houston Red Cross –Ex. Board Chairman. Service to Veterans & Families

• Pasadena Heart Association – Ex. Broad Member

• Pasadena Bond Review Committee – Member

• American Legion – Post 490

• Served in Harris County Grand Jury

• Harris County Labor Council – Delegate and Ex. Board Member

• Women’s Christian Home – Ex. Board Member

• Chicano Labor Council – Ex. Board Member

• Minority Coalition AFL-C10 – Ex. Board member

• UFCW Region 8 – Ex. Board Member

• Labor Council for Latin American Advancement – Officer

• LULAC – Officer in Office of Advancement

• United Hispanics of UFCW in U.S.A., Canada, & Puerto Rico – Sec. Treasurer and President

• Community Relations Bureau – 34 years served

• PCT. 188 – Precinct chair and Judge

• Tejano Democrats / Area 5 Democrats – Vice-Chair and Chairman

• Three Health & Welfare Trusts – Trustee in these trusts, providing healthcare for over 35,000 members

• Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award

• Office of Congressman Gene Green ( 29th Congressional District of the U.S.) – Field Representative

• Served in the National Guard

• Serviced as a Harris County Sheriff Deputy

• Served in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant

To say he accomplished more than what most people dream of, is an understatement. Joe was always special. There was no place within Southeast Houston that he could visit without seeing someone he knew from his work in the Union, the numerous committees he was a part of, or who he coached in Little League baseball.

Yes, even as he was heavily involved in his work, he found the time to coach Little League baseball for 10 year. Every game he coached; it was guaranteed Dorlene would be there too. Every ball player he interacted with, he treated as his own. Baseball was his passion, and he loved to coach it.

Joe will be dearly missed by everyone who had the blessing of interacting with him. Even if you had one conversation with him, any word or phrase he would say, was destined to stick with you. That was who he was. He was a man of great words, a man of great listening, and a man of service.

While he is missed, he is reunited with the love of his life, Dorlene Noe Reyna, wife of 63 years, in the kingdom of Heaven. Their love carries on above, and their memory remains in the hearts of everyone whom they loved.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife Dorlene Noe Reyna of Pasadena, Texas, born in West Virginia; parents: Raymond and Rosie Reyna of South Houston, Texas, Edward and Janie Benavides of Bend, Oregon; daughter Joetta Rose Reyna of Pasadena, Texas; Steven Ray Reyna of Pasadena, Texas; grandfather Apolonio Ramirez of Richmond, Texas; sisters Yolanda Reyna of South Houston, Texas and Delia Ramirez of Bend, Oregon.

Survived by siblings: Edward Reyna and wife Maria; Charles Reyna and wife Carol; Carl Reyna and wife Wanda; Don and Lee Foreman; Yvonne Reyna Casey and husband Mike; Glorio Villareal; Margaret (Kenny) Ramirez; Edward Benavidez Jr.; and Gloria Jane Benavidez. His children: Melissa Ann Reyna Adams and husband Donnie; Nita Lynne Reyna Veracruz and husband Benjamin; grandchildren: Jason Wayne Rice; Ashley Joetta Veracruz Gomez and husband Saul; Joseph William Adams; Brian Franklin Veracruz and wife Isamar; Zachary Joseph Reyna; great-grandchildren: Caidence Edward Vela (His 1st Buddy); Aurora Dorlene Veracruz (His Meek One); Mia Isabella Gomez ( His Trouble Maker); and Isabel Ruth Veracruz ( The Boss).

Our World is shattered, we’ve lost our Father

But we must remember today, this morn was the beginning of a new day.

It was ours to waste or to use for good.

Today is important, we exchanged a day of our life for it.

Tomorrow, today will be gone forever, leaving memories that are full of good and sorrowful memories.

We wanted it to be a day of gain, and good, not pain and sorrow.

We wanted it to be a day of no regrets or heart breaks.

But we can’t control the outcome.

My sister and I didn’t want to pay the price we paid for today.

Our Father may be gone.

But he will live on.

In our thoughts

In our minds

In our dreams

and most of all in our hearts.