OBITUARY: Bill Ramsey, 75, of Tow dies Feb. 23, 2014
Bill Ramsey, 75, of Tow, Texas, passed away Feb. 23, 2014. He was born Oct. 31, 1938, to Dillard and Jewell (Williams) Ramsey in Gatesville, Texas.
He moved to Tow as soon as he was able, arriving in 1950. He attended school in Llano, Texas, and graduated high school with the class of 1956.
He was a force to be reckoned with on the Yellow Jackets football team for all his years in high school and was active in the FFA programs, gaining from that his love of ranching and livestock, old tractors and country life.
After graduating high school, he attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos, now known as Texas State University. He then joined and proudly serve in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam and Alaska. Bill remained in Alaska after his Air Force service for about 23 years, living in Fairbanks, then Anchorage, and working as a communications specialist with the phone companies of those areas. He was a member of the IBEW union and retired in that capacity in 1988.
During his time in Alaska, his love of hunting, fishing and bush-piloting his own aircraft occupied much of his time and attention.
Bill was baptized in the Tow Baptist Church in 1955 and remained a member until his passing, but he also attended United Methodist Church in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Cowboy Church in Llano.
Bill is survived by his wife Shirlene Joy of Tow; daughter Melissa Morgan and husband Tom of Fairfax, Va.; son, William T. Ramsey of Llano and Alaska; daughter Kimberlee Ysais and husband Tony of Tow; brother, Jerry Ramsey and wife Annie of Tow; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandson; two nieces; and more friends than can be counted.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Clara Jo Ramsey; and daughter-in-law, Kelly Ramsey.
A memorial service was Feb. 29 at Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 307 E. Sandstone St. in Llano, conducted by longtime family friends, the Revs. Jerald Moore of Tow and Kenneth Smarr of Crane.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Austin Heart or KELLY KARES at Llano Memorial Hospital.
Bill will be missed by many friends and relatives.
Email condolences to whhfuneral1@verizon.net.