Joseph A. Ramsey

RAMSEY, HAMILTON, KELSO

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 3/14/2006 at 18:35:05

Winterset Madisonian
April 1960

JOSEPH RAMSEY DIED TUESDAY

Winterset Mortician and Business Man Was 84 Years Old

Joseph A. Ramsey, retired Winterset mortician and a resident of this community for 58 years, died Tuesday, April 26 at his home in Winterset. He was 84 years of age.

Mr. Ramsey was a native of Preble county, Ohio where he was born Oct. 6, 1875, a son of Hugh and Clarissa Hamilton Ramsey. He was married at Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 29, 1905, to Gertrude C. Kelso who survives him.

Mr. Ramsey served as mortician for 44 years, and was engaged in the furniture business here for 38 years. Before coming to Iowa he had attended commercial college in Richmond, Ind., and Clark's college of Embalming at Cincinnati, O. From 1902 to 1905 he was employed by the Lowe Furniture and Funeral company of Winterset. From 1905 until 1927 he operated his own businesses in those fields, becoming associated in that latter year with A. A. Richards. The Ramsey-Richards partnership continued until 1946, when Mr. Ramsey retired.

He was a member of the Masonic lodge here for 50 years, and of the Eastern Star and Knights of Pythias. He helped organize the present Farmers and Merchants bank, and had served as its vice president for many years. He was active also in state banking and mortician associations. His church membership was with the present Bethel United Presbyterian.

In addition to his wife, he leaves a niece, in Topeka, Kansas and three nephews in Ohio.

Funeral services will be held this Friday at 3 p.m. from the Richards Funeral home, conducted by the Rev. John Fink, pastor of the First United Presbyterian church in Winterset. Burial will be made in the Winterset cemetery.