David John Ramsey

March 28, 1938 ~ December 23, 2012

Dave J. Ramsey, 74, passed away on Sunday, December 23, 2012, in East Wenatchee. Dave was born March 28, 1938, in Choteau, MT, to Edith and Arthur Ramsey. When he was a baby, his parents moved to Wenatchee, where his father and his uncle, Ivan, founded Ramsey's Ice Cream. Dave went to Columbia and Whitman Grade Schools, H.B. Ellison Jr. High and Wenatchee High School. He excelled in baseball and football. Following graduation from high school in 1957, Dave joined the Navy for four years. His assignments included the aircraft carrier, Princeton, which he loved, and duty on Midway Island, which he did not. After the service, Dave attended Wenatchee Junior College. Except for a few months in Fairbanks, AK as a sales manager at a radio station, Dave spent his professional life in Wenatchee. He was at Wells and Wade Hardware for 16 years, serving as credit manager. He was also a salesman at J.C. Penney, the Nickel Ads newspaper, Joe Welty Ford and Charter Communications. He continued his lifelong love of athletics as a fastpitch softball player, manager and coach on several championship teams and is a member of the Wenatchee Softball Hall of Fame. He was a dedicated golfer. Known for his exuberant sense of fun, he sometimes entertained his family and acquaintances with impressions of Midway's famous Goony birds. He cherished his friends and reveled in the class of 1957's get-togethers at Smitty's Pancake House. Dave once said, "I gave marriage a good try - four times."

Dave is survived by his brother, Doug (Charlene) of Yakima, WA; and nephew, Paul Ramsey of Santa Barbara, CA.

At his request, there will be no Funeral Service. Friends and family will plan a Memorial Celebration of his Life next spring. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guestbook at www.jonesjonesbetts.com. Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.