John L. Ramsey

RAMSEY, JOHN L., a native and public servant of Louisville, died Wednesday, December 22, 2010 of natural causes. He was 93.

Ramsey was born on October 3, 1917, in Fern Creek, KY. Ramsey graduated from Fern Creek High School before receiving a bachelor's from Western Kentucky University and his master's at the University of Louisville. Fern Creek's athletic director was quoted as saying that Ramsey was "the best all-around athlete ever turned out at Fern Creek High School." Western Kentucky's basketball coach, E.A. Diddle, recruited Ramsey to attend Western, and at Western, he dated Louise Rowe who later became his loving and devoted wife for 60 years.

After school, Ramsey moved back to Fern Creek where he became a teacher and coach at Fern Creek High School. After nine years at Fern Creek, he served as director of Instructional Materials, Director of Instruction, assistant superintendent, and associate superintendent for General Administration all in the Jefferson County public school system. He retired in 1975.

Ramsey was a devoted public servant serving on the Kentucky State Board of Education, Board of Regents for Western Kentucky University, Board of Trustees for Bellwood Children's Home, Board of Directors for the Boy Scouts of America, Red Cross Youth Committee, and Louisville Chamber of Commerce. He served as President of East Jefferson County Lions Club and Rotary Club of Buechel, and he was an active member and leader at Beulah Presbyterian Church.

In 1998, he, along with his son, James R. Ramsey, were inducted into the first Fern Creek High School Hall of Fame. In 2008, Jefferson County Public Schools named a middle school after Ramsey, the John L. Ramsey Middle School. Shortly before Ramsey died, more than 115 children from Ramsey Middle School came to sing to him at the Episcopal Church Home where he resided.

Ramsey was extremely proud of his family.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Louise Rowe Ramsey; parents, Perrye and Rev. William A. Ramsey; and brothers, William Rozelle, Charles Edwin and James Excell Ramsey.

Survivors include his second wife, Micki Lawson Ramsey; son, James R. Ramsey (Jane); daughter, Suzanne R. Peterson (Ken); grandchildren, Tammy Moloy (Michael), John D. Peterson (Tamlyn), Jacque and Jennifer Ramsey; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Marlena Moloy, and Anya and Riley Peterson; and sister, Mary Elizabeth Ropke.

His funeral is 10 a.m. Thursday at Beulah Presbyterian Church, 6704 Bardstown Road, with burial in Resthaven Memorial Park. Visitation is 3-8 p.m. Wednesday at Fern Creek Funeral home, 5406 Bardstown Road.

The family wishes to express its deep gratitude for the loving care provided at Episcopal Church Home and by Hosparus.

Donations can be made to the John and Louise Ramsey Scholarship Fund at Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY 42101, The Ramsey Scholarship Fund at the University of Louisville, or a charity of your choice.