Wanda Mary (Graves) RAMSEY

RAMSEY, GRAVES, NELSON, WALKER, SCHWARCK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/30/2007 at 12:03:18

Wanda Mary Graves Ramsey, 90, died Dec. 22, 2007, at her home in Marshalltown under the care of Iowa River Hospice. Family will greet friends at the visitation on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Dunn’s Funeral Home, 2121 Grand Ave. in Des Moines. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at First Christian Church, 25th & University in Des Moines. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Iowa River Hospice or Central Christian Church, both located in Marshalltown.

She was born April 12, 1917, to Emma Cecil and Horace Frederik (Nelson) Graves at Clarion, Iowa. She graduated from Clarion Public Schools in 1935 and from American Institute of Business in Des Moines in 1938. Wanda taught country school in Wright County and worked in Des Moines at DeHann/Patterson Dental Supply Company, the Iowa State Teacher’s Association located at the Salisbury House, and retired from Heather Manor, a retirement home for teachers, in 1977. Wanda married Roy Ramsey in August 1947. They made their home and raised their children in Des Moines. She lived in Des Moines from 1937 to 2003 when she moved to Marshalltown to live with her daughter’s family. She was a member of First Christian Church in Des Moines and Central Christian Church in Marshalltown, where she was an active member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. Wanda spent her life caring for others and was a loving, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Her optimism and strong faith was an inspiration to all who knew her.

Wanda is survived by her son, Robert (Sharon) Ramsey of Des Moines; daughters, Marilyn Walker of Des Moines and Margaret (Phil) Schwarck of Marshalltown; a brother, Robert (Barbara) Graves of Marshalltown; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents; five sisters; one brother; and a daughter, Jo Ann Ramsey.

The Times-Republican
Marshalltown, Iowa
December 24, 2007