Jean Ramey

Jun 18, 1928 -

Jul 27, 2026

Jean Alice Ramey passed away peacefully on Monday, July 27, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska. She had recently celebrated her 98th birthday at a party with family, including her great-grandson who was born one year ago on her birthday.

Jean was born on June 18, 1928, in Columbus, Ohio, to Louis John Waldschmidt and Gertrude Alvera Waldschmidt, nee Welch. She graduated from Bexley High School in 1946 and earned a degree in accounting from Capital University in 1950.

In May 1951, she married Ralph Emerson Ramey Jr., also from Bexley, and together they raised three children: John Louis, Carolyn Louise and James Andrew, "Jim." The family lived in several Ohio communities over the years, including Columbus, Upper Arlington, Yellow Springs and Westerville, after the kids were gone.

As was typical of that time, she did most of the childrearing of two energetic boys and a daughter who was born with spina bifida and required more assistance and care during her life. Although Jean had never wanted to be a nurse, she found herself thrust into that role and accepted it with grace and determination.

Jean balanced the demands of raising her children with a successful career. She worked as a bookkeeper, earned her CPA designation and was elected Miami Township Treasurer in 1988, where she served for three years before retiring.

After their children moved west to Alaska and Seattle, Wash., Jean and Ralph made many trips to visit with kids and grandkids. Jean also traveled frequently with Ralph on his wildlife trips and adventures, throughout the U.S. and overseas to places like Kenya and Antarctica.

In 2012, Jean and Ralph moved from Ohio to the Seattle area to be closer to their son Jim, his wife Karyn and daughter Lauryn. After both Ralph and Jim passed away, Jean moved to Anchorage in 2023, to be closer to her son John and his family, even though she never enjoyed the cold winter weather.

Despite the challenges that life threw her way, Jean was continually upbeat with a positive and cheerful attitude, adapting well and making new friends as she moved later in life to be around supporting families.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Gertrude; husband, Ralph; daughter, Carolyn; and son, Jim. She is survived by her son, John (Diane); daughter-in-law, Karyn; four grandchildren, Kalen Ramey Stamp (Dave), Tristan Ramey Ziegler (Cyle), Tanner Ramey and Lauryn Ramey; and two great-grandchildren, Elonie Stamp and Ramey James Ziegler.

Jean will be laid to rest in the Waldschmidt/Ramey family plot at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus.