Ramsey, Nathan James, Major 1925 - 2015

RAMSEY, BELL, SPERRY, HARPER, OTTO

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/10/2015 at 08:30:48

Major Nathan James (“Jim”) Ramsey, USAF, retired, went to be with the Lord March 30, 2015, in Dallas, Texas. He was 90 years old.

Jim was born March 9, 1925, in Decorah, to Myron and Pauline Ramsey. He attended high school in Fond du Lac, Wis. After a year of college in Wisconsin, where he majored in math, Jim decided to go into the service of his country, and began his aviation cadet training at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas in June 1943. Upon completion of training he served as a navigator during World War II in the 21st Air Transport Squadron located in the South Pacific. Mr. Ramsey retired from the Air Force as a member of the 492nd Bombardment Squadron of the Strategic Air Command in November 1963, but not before spending a year flying Air/Sea Rescue missions at Thule AFB, Greenland in 1958. Somehow during his globe-spanning military career, he was able to meet his wife, Sallie Bell, at Biggs AFB in El Paso, Texas, where they were married in 1951. Upon retirement Jim and family moved to Mexia, Texas, childhood home of Sallie. During his years in Mexia Jim was very involved in the community, as an active member of the First United Methodist Church choir, the Mexia Rotary Club and the Mexia Chamber of Commerce, where he served as manager for several years. Jim particularly enjoyed July 4th celebrations at the Mexia City Park, playing and teaching tennis (Jim helped build tennis courts at Mexia High School that stand to this day), woodworking, building (he designed and built the family home in 1973), working on cars, hunting and golf, and was a die-hard Apple Macintosh aficionado. Jim had the time of his life catching lake trout and northern pike on a fishing trip to Nueltin Lake in Manitoba, Canada. He was a voracious reader and civic-minded citizen who kept abreast of world events, but most of all enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Jim lived the last five years of his life at the Edgemere retirement community in Dallas, where he enriched the lives of many. He enjoyed visits to Park Cities Baptist church and the men’s bible study class. No longer able to enjoy life in his Mexia home, he focused his full attention on Fox News and the shortcomings of politicians.

He is survived by his four children: Nathan James Ramsey, Jr. (wife Melinda) of Dallas, Jeanne Smith Ramsey Otto of Austin, Rebecca Nan Ramsey Sperry (husband Mark) of Kindred, N.D. and Jens Karner Ramsey (wife Jenny) of Austin. Also surviving him are nine grandchildren: Lauren Elizabeth Otto Harper (Chris), Jordan Bryan Otto (Marie), Anna Eleandor Ramsey, Nathan James “Chip” Ramsey III, Amanda Joy Ramsey, Allison Grace Ramsey, Sarah Elizabeth Ramsey, Benjamin James Ramsey and John Paul Ramsey.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Sallie, in 2009.

Source: Decorah Newspapers April 7, 2015