Daniel Ponce Ramirez

Daniel Ponce Ramirez, also known as Danny, the “Mayor of Piru”, went to be with the Lord on January 10th, 2024. He was a loving son of Pablo Garcia Ramirez and Mollie Ponce Ramirez of Piru, CA, brother of Pablo “Pablito” Ramirez of Piru,CA, Maria Elena Negrete of Arlington, TX, Olivia Tooley of Helena, MT, and Argentina Zepeda of Ventura, CA, father of three children Juanita Ramirez Mendoza of Piru, CA, Ide Monic Ramirez, and Daniel P Ramirez Jr of Ventura, CA, Grandfather “Papa” to Jennie, Alina, Lea, Sadie, Avalon Ramirez, Daniella Mendoza, and Simon Ramirez, and Great-Grandfather to Arizella Hernandez.

He was a lifelong resident of Piru, CA, a community that he loved and cared for deeply. He attended Piru Elementary and later graduated from Fillmore High School in 1975. Danny was an member of varsity football (#70), and performed in the marching band as a drummer, where he was known to change uniforms during half time to play with the band and then return to his football uniform to finish the game for the win!

Danny worked for the City of Fillmore in Public Works right out of High School for several years. His career path would eventually lead him to work with CalTrans, where he retired as Lead in 2019. He also worked with Ventura County Parks since 1982, becoming a Ventura County Park Ranger where he maintained both Warring Park and Town Center Park. He was also Park Ranger at Lake Piru (Call Sign: Ranger 4), was extremely proud to be a 2nd generation Firefighter as a Reserve Firefighter with the Ventura County Engine 28 (Piru) for 31 years. He was a member of the Piru Park Commission for many years, and volunteered as a member of the Piru Neighborhood Council, Piru Youth Sports, helped distribute food commodities for Food Share in Piru, was a certified CPR instructor with American Red Cross, and a member of Piru’s CERT team. Danny possessed the crowd with his charisma, which made him a natural as a master of ceremonies for Piru’s Men’s Invitational Softball Tournaments, Piru Youth Sports T-Ball, Little League, and the Annual Piru Christmas Parade. In 2001, Danny was honored as Grand Marshall for the 24th Annual Piru Christmas Parade. He supported the Lighthouse Rescue Mission for Women and Children as a groundskeeper, and supplying firewood. He was a devout parishioner of San Salvador Mission and member of the church’s Men’s Ministry; He taught and mentored Altar Servers, where he provided words of encouragement and inspiration.

Danny enjoyed his life as a outdoor sportsman. He was an avid deep-sea fisherman, traveling to Baja California during the summer and loved hunting for deer in Utah during the fall. He knew all of the best hunting and fishing grounds from California, all the way to Utah. He was known to be quite the Grillmaster, making the best Tri-Tip in Piru, and loved to barbeque for family and friends alike.

“Papa” Danny took great pride in supporting his grandchildren with their many activities, which ranged in helping them raising hogs with the Piru Canyon 4-H, sports, music lessons, and Eagle Scouts.

His love for music was born with the Fillmore High School Band and blossomed into performing many different genres, from Cumbias, Funk, Classic Rock, and R&B as a percussionist, playing with the Tempting Soul of Fillmore, where they won Ventura County Battle of the Bands in the 70’s, and performed at the happiest place on Earth, Disneyland. He also performed with The Piru River Band, The House Arrest Band, Freddy and Friends, Juano and Friends, The Hard Water Band, Orale, and many others.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Mollie Ponce Ramirez, his brother Pablo “Pablito” Ramirez, and granddaughters Yesenia and Heavenly.

His Rosary and Wake will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 6:30PM in San Salvador Mission in Piru. Services will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 11:00AM. in San Salvador Mission in Piru.