Robert A. Ramser

1930 - 2018

Robert Allen "Bob" Ramser, 88, of New Kensington, passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2018, at Concordia of Fox Chapel. He was born in Mingo Junction, Ohio, to the late Russell Emanuel and Mabel Boltz Ramser. Bob graduated from Shadyside High School, Shadyside, Ohio, in 1948. He grew up a member of the Presbyterian Church in Shadyside, Ohio, and attended the Episcopal Church in New Kensington and Oakmont. Bob is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alice Ormesher Ramser; his two daughters, Lisa R. Ramser (Derrick Lavoie), of Santa Marie, Calif., and Diane E. (Ramser) Dassoulas (Mark), of Bethesda, Md., and one son, Fredrick William Ramser (Brenda Lesperance), of Pittsburgh; six grandchildren, Lindsay Oyler (Andy Meyers), of Oceanside, Calif., Kasandra Dassoulas, of Baltimore, Md., Robert E. Oyler (Jillian), of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Stefhan Dassoulas (Hayley), of Cordova, Md., and Garcia Ramser and Keegan Ramser, both of Pittsburgh; two newborn great-grandchildren, James Mason Dassoulas and Zia Rae Meyers; one brother, William Ramser (Carol), of Wheeling, W.Va.; one sister, Mary Ann (Ramser) Torges, of Ostrander, Ohio; and he is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Mary Ramser and Lou Ramser; and by numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by three brothers, Russell Emmanuel Jr., John Frederick and James Richard Ramser; and one brother-in-law, Dean Torges. Bob came to New Kensington to begin his career at ALCOA following graduation from Ohio State University in 1952 with a bachelor of science and master of arts in mechanical engineering. He earned his professional engineer license in 1956 and retired as senior technical consultant from ALCOA in 1995. During his employment at ALCOA, Bob was awarded with 12 proprietary patents dealing with significant developments in atomizing and casting. In 1990, he received the Arthur Vining Davis Award for Technical Excellence; in 1996 he was given the Francis C. Frary Award in recognition of significant contributions to the development and implementation of materials processing and systems technology and in 1998 the Arthur Vining Davis Award for Excellence in Technical Reporting. A member of the Twenty-Five Year Club at ALCOA, Bob also belonged to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Scientific Research Society of North America, Tau Beta Pi and Amateur Astronomers. Bob was an avid gardener, loved fishing, good food, good wine, good music and was a proficient woodworker, giving many of his creations as gifts to family and friends. He enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, vacations in Cape May, N.J., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, and Lost River, W.Va., and many visits to Lititz, Pa.
Family and friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the FRANK F. GIGLER FUNERAL HOME, 2877 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell, PA 15668, 724-335-6500, where a service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday officiated by the Rev. Norman E. Koehler.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the Animal Protectors of Allegheny, 533 Linden Ave., New Kensington, PA 15068 or Heritage Hospice, 2400 Leechburg Road No. 300, New Kensington, PA 15608.