Joseph Ramsey - Obituary

oseph Holmes Ramsey, 78, died of a brain tumor on Monday, February 13, 2012 at the Mandrin Chesapeake Hospice House in Harwood, MD. He was born January 15, 1934 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the late Joseph W. and Hope A. Ramsey. After serving as a Cryptologic Technician in the U.S. Navy in the 1950s, Joe earned a B.S. degree in Physics from the University of Tulsa in 1963 and was a member of Kappa Alpha. Immediately after graduation, he married his sweetheart LaCresha Dolan and took a job in the space division of Westinghouse Defense. As a field engineer, Joe worked on satellites, science experiments, and other space programs in Maryland, Florida, and California, earning awards and accolades until his retirement in 1994. He loved being with his family, going to the beach, doing genealogy, fixing things, enjoying fine food, taking photos, and listening to music. He was a 40-year member of the Annapolis Church of Christ, a longtime volunteer at the Annapolis Family History Center, and the unofficial mayor of the street where he lived. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, LaCresha Ramsey of Glen Burnie, MD; daughter and son-in-law Rochelle and Ted Fry of San Diego, CA; daughter and son-in-law Dena and Chris Lenham of Harpers Ferry, WV; granddaughter Anastasia Fry of San Diego, CA; brother- and sister-in-law Dewel and Frances Dolan, nephews Mike and Duane Dolan, all of OK.; sponsored midshipman Cmdr. Matt Jackson of WA; plus many friends and relatives. Friends are invited to Joseph’s Life Celebration at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Saturday, February 18, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. Funeral service will be Sunday, February 19, at 2:30 pm at the Annapolis Church of Christ, 1601 Ritchie Hwy., Arnold, MD. Burial will be at a later date in Tulsa, OK.