Joseph J. Ramalho, Jr. age 83, passed away after a brief illness on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s Angel House Hospice Care Center in Whiteville, NC.  He was born on April 20, 1942 in Hudson, MA to the late Joseph J. Ramalho, Sr and Mary (Renaud) Ramalho.  In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Pauline Elhilow (John), and his brother, Michael Ramalho.

Joe grew up in Hudson, MA and he graduated from Hudson High School in 1960.  He then attended Worcester Industrial Technical Institute where he completed the course of study in Carpentry.  He served our great country as a member of the United States Army, serving in Korea.  He was employed by Beckman Industries in CA for a time before returning to Massachusetts, and there he was employed before retirement at Digital Equipment Corporation.  Joe was an avid bicyclist and even competed once in the fund-raising Pan-Mass Challenge, a two-day 186-mile journey from Sturbridge, MA to Provincetown, MA.  In 1993 he relocated to FL, and in 2002 built a home on five acres of land in Homosassa, FL.

He was dedicated to helping others, and volunteered for many years building homes with Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County, as well as for several years with The Salvation Army where he prepared and served meals to the needy.  In 2023, he and his wife relocated to Whiteville, NC where they purchased a home.

Left to cherish his memory, Joe is survived by his life partner of 34 years (wife of 17 years), Leslie O. Ramalho of Whiteville, NC; sister, Judith Yost (Robert) of Hudson, Ma; sister Sandra Yellick of Northborough, MA; brother, Robert Ramalho of Hudson, MA; daughter, Jolene Ramalho and his grandson Wiley Holmes of Worcester, MA; son, Jason Ramalho (Kristen) and his grandson Dominic, granddaughter Delaney, and grandson Kadin of Hollis, NH; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

According to Mr. Ramalho’s wishes, no services will be held at this time.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date around his birthday in April in his hometown of Hudson, MA.

McKenzie Mortuary in Whiteville, NC is serving the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joe’s memory to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC  28401, or online at lifecare.org.