Ildefonso Ramos Deleon

January 23, 1947 - July 6, 2018. On Friday July 6, 2018, Ildefonso "Poncho" Ramos De León passed away suddenly at the age of 71. He was beloved by his family and friends. Poncho was born and grew up in the remote, high desert town of Marathon, TX, son of Crispín De León, Sr. and Fermana Ramos De León. His early life was quiet, growing up with siblings Elvira, Crispín, Jr., Joaquín and Gabriela. His first language was Spanish. Poncho was valedictorian of his graduating class at Marathon High School and earned a full scholarship to Sul Ross University in Alpine, TX, where he excelled in the study of chemistry and math. During the Vietnam War, he voluntarily enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps. After his service was complete, he returned home and worked on a community food co-op where he met Margaret Fennelly, from Liverpool, England. They fell in love and married in 1970. They had three children, Esteban, Marisa and Alejandro. Poncho attended graduate school at Texas A&M in Bryan, TX. The family moved to New Orleans, LA in 1976, where Poncho accepted a job as a research chemist at the Center for Bio Organic Studies at the University of New Orleans. His expertise in a scientific procedure, known as mass spectrometry, was renown and he and his colleagues published 23 scientific papers, of which he was very proud. In 1983, Poncho was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church and served at St. Maria Goretti Parish for 35 years, baptizing hundreds of babies. He also served in the historic mass when Pope John Paul II visited New Orleans in 1987. His beloved wife Margaret preceded him in death in 2001. In his later years, he was the generous and loving grandfather of Vigneer, Jr., Cristian, Marilu and Marigny, who were the center of his universe. Funeral services for Ildefonso "Poncho" Ramos De León will be held on Friday July 27, 2018. Visitation begins at 8am, with a Rosary at 9:30am. A funeral Mass will follow at 11am with reception afterwards in the Church Center. All events at St. Maria Goretti Church, 7300 Crowder Blvd., NOLA 70127.

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