Diego Alberto Ruiz , 17, of Center, passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2023, in Center.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Watson & Sons Chapel. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.

Born March 1, 2006, Diego is the son of Jose Alberto Ruiz and Marisol Espino-Diaz.

He is survived by his parents, Jose Alberto Ruiz and Marisol Espino-Diaz; brothers, Brayan Ruiz and Angel Ruiz; sister, Karen Ruiz; grandmother, Teresa Diaz; niece, Naomi Ruiz and Ellie Gonzalez; nephew, Elijah Gonzalez; sister-in-law, Cinthya Ruiz; brother-in-law, Jose Gonzalez; girlfriend, Melissa Arcibar; aunts and uncles, Jose Espino, Jacobo Espino, Efren Espino, Jesus Espino, Lilila Espino, Elena Espino, Eliazar Espino, Clara Mendoza, Ramiro Espino, and Adela Lucio; cousins, Alan Espino, Adrian Espino, Diana Espino, Efren Edgar Espino, Jory Espino, Irvin Espino, Jiro Espino, Jennyfer Espino, Jahir Espino, Fransisco Espino, Dules Espino, Ricardo Espino, Lisli Hernandez, Vanesa Espino, Lesly Espino, Lenny Espino, Bianca Espino, and Juan Escobedo.

Preceded in death by aunt, Tilodina Morales; uncles, Jesus Espino Flores, Jose Gomez, and Pedro Loyo; and grandmother, Rogeia Loyo.