Homero Ruiz

 Peppy was born in Puerto Rico to Juan and Ester Ruiz on January 20, 1930. He passed away on April 11, 2023, at the age of 93 years old.   When Peppy turned sixteen, he moved to New York, became a youth boxer, and later served in the U. S. Air Force, and the National Guard which brought him to the Mississippi Gulf Coast where he spent the remainder of his life.

 Peppy worked at Ingalls Ship Building from 1963 until he retired in 1994 as a Production Control Manager. He enjoyed the outdoors as a Bass fisherman, a competitive archer, and an avid hunter even completing this past hunting season.  Most of his hobby’s involved nature and he was often found working in his yard, making flounder rigs, training his dogs, and shooting his bow. For thirty-five years, he held annual crawfish boils with karaoke and dancing for family and friends. He lived life to the fullest, never met a stranger and thankfully shared many words of wisdom. A true friend, legend, and hero.   
 A loving family man, Peppy was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Arlene Ruiz; his children, Tony Ruiz, Aloma Ruiz, Belinda Zitko, Kimberly Bear, and Shawn Dickinson; his grandchildren, Billy Talbert, Shawna Dickinson Cannon, Joshua Harmic, and Sierra Ruiz; and his sisters, Alba and Zida.

 He is survived by his loving wife, Jane Ruiz; children Lavon (Tissy) Staten, Ricky (Sharon) Ruiz, Desiree (Justin) Woroner-Hurst, and Taino Ruiz;  as well as Darren (Connie) Lea, Valerie Reed, Dan Defnall, Jim (Lynn) Defnall, John (Karen) Defnall; his sister, Audrey Ward; his daughters-in-law, Pamela Ruiz, Karen Dickinson, Myra Ruiz and Kayla Ruiz; and son-in-law, Mike Zitko.  Peppy also loved his twenty-eight grandchildren, forty-one great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and his many, many other wonderful family members and friends.

 A visitation for family and friends will be held at The Riemann Family Funeral Home, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd. in West Jackson County on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until the 2:00 p.m. funeral service. He will be laid to rest in Crestlawn Memorial Park in Ocean Springs. The Riemann Family Funeral Home, West Jackson County is proud to serve the Ruiz family.

 An online register is available for viewing, signing, and sharing memories, condolences and photos at www.riemannfamily.com