Charles Walter Ramos (81) was born in Oakland, CA on February 8, 1930, to Catherine Villegas and Peter Scardina. Charlie grew up on the central coast and attended Santa Maria High School. He enlisted in the Army at Ford Ord January 1948 and proudly served during the Korean War with final duty in Toyko, Japan, through December 1953. Military honors included the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal.

He met the love of his life, Cecelia L. Navarro, while on a short leave and was determined to marry her. He knew what he wanted and proposed to her at the flag pole of the Veterans Memorial Building in Lompoc and married her in August 1952 before returning to duty.

Charlie worked for the United States Postal Service for over 20 years in Lompoc and retired as an Assistant Postmaster in Atascadero, California.

Charlie and Cecelia raised their family in Lompoc, then moved to Atascadero just before retirement. They loved the open country and moved to Templeton, on 26 acres in the middle of the wine country. Later, they moved to Nipomo to settle into a smaller property and travel.

Charlie was a sharp shooter at hunting and consistently successful at winning the deep sea fishing jack pots off the Avila and Morro Bay coasts. Growing up, Charlie was competitive at baseball, bowling, an occasional game of golf, and always up for winning and taking your money in a game of pool.

Charlie and Cecelia loved to travel, visiting family in Sicily, touring throughout Europe, Mexico, Baja California and Hawaii. Charlie loved to dance, play the piano and always made you laugh with a great joke.

Charlie and Cecelia were delighted to move in recently with their granddaughter Maia Kight and family, happily spending his last days in their company. Charlie is preceded in death by one day by his son in law, Dr. Ricardo Murguia of Nipomo. Charlie was also preceded in death by his parents Catherine Villegas, Peter Scardina, his brother Santo Scardina, sister MaryAnn Scardina Courtney, and step-father James Ramos.

Survivors include the love of his life, Cecelia L. Ramos, daughters Catherine "Cathy" Steinke (Mark), Charlene Murguia (Ricardo, deceased), and son, Charles "Chuck" Ramos, and sister Amelia Scardina Argo. His loving and devoted grandchildren include Maia (Les) Kight, Devin (Vanessa), Annalise, and Emily Murguia, Lyndsy (Dave) Jump, Hailee Hansen, Canyun and Danielle Ramos. Great-grandchildren Timothy, Tanner and Trevor Kight, and Aurora Jump. Nieces, nephews and cousins also deeply loved and respected Charlie.

Services will begin at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary in Lompoc with visitation beginning at 4:00pm on Sunday, May 1st, and Rosary at 5:00 pm. Funeral mass will be held at 10 am on Monday morning at La Purisima Catholic Church in Lompoc, with burial immediately following at the Lompoc Cemetery.