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(Moved To Delta In 1971)
Elisabeth Hallie Ramsey left this world on January fourth, 2024. She was born in London, England on July fourth, 1934.
Her father Thomas, a World War One veteran and renowned dermatologist, took his children for walks on the heath, telling them stories of the adventures of English robins and hedge hogs which he invented as they went along.
This kindled Elisabeth’s imagination and her love of little creatures (except frogs!) which she cultivated throughout her life. Her mother Hallie, quiet, gentle, and strong – taught her the importance of kindness, faith, dignity, and grace.
When she was only six years old, London was bombed for fifty-seven nights in a row by the Germans during World War II. This harrowing experience affected her deeply, both scarring her and giving her remarkable resilience during difficult times.
After the war, as she grew into a young woman, Elisabeth loved attending church, developing a deep Christian faith, which she cherished her entire life.
She loved singing and dancing with her friends, she rode horses, she swam in the sea, she roared around the streets of London on the back of a motorbike.
Traveling on a train in 1952 she met a handsome young American serviceman from Tennessee named Carl Ramsey and they fell in love. Despite her parents’ concerns, Elisabeth was a believer in destiny.
They married in 1954, settling in Dayton, Ohio. Elisabeth had six children with Carl in a marriage lasting forty-two years.
They moved to Delta in 1971, where she developed an appreciation for small town life. There she developed a network of friends that would be dear to her the rest of her life. She had an innate ability to charm people, making them feel listened to and cared for.
After her marriage to Carl ended, she fell in love with Clarence Finney, with whom she shared a passion for antiques.
They lived a simple, quiet life together for over twenty years on Burr Road in Wauseon, Ohio. Clarence was devoted to her until the very end and did his best to help care for her under the most difficult circumstances.
Elisabeth was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Throughout her life she was childlike at heart, always loving towards little children, who were drawn to her.
She was the center of gravity in her family, always keeping track of her children’s lives. She loved music, movies, books, nice clothes, and always, always anything and everything British.
The bond with the country of her birth was always close to her heart, yet she was also a proud citizen of the USA. Elisabeth loved her home and made it her own, furnishing it with many fine and unusual things.
Throughout her life she followed where her heart led her, once her mind was made up, it rarely could be changed. In the end her story is best described as one of love. She leaves behind something beautiful in the hearts of all she loved.
Elisabeth was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Hallie Brain, her husband Carl Ramsey, her brothers John Brain, and Tony Brain and also her first born son David, who died at birth.
Elisabeth is survived by her companion Clarence Finney and her children: Stephen (Linda) Ramsey, Andrew (Penny) Ramsey, Mark Ramsey, Amy (Robert) Fisher, Matthew (Sheryl) Ramsey. Grand children: Jennifer (Justin) Fogle, Sara (Ben) Lahman, Michael Savage, Thomas (Rachel) Ramsey, Colin (Stephanie) Fisher, Aubrey (Paul) Mason, Jacob (Elizabeth) Funchion, Nicholas (Michaela) Funchion, and ten great grandchildren.
A memorial service celebrating Elisabeth’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 129 Elm St., Wauseon, Ohio 43567.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to FISH food pantry, 222 Depot St., Wauseon, Ohio 43567 in her memory.
Arrangements have been entrusted with Barnes Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 5825 St Hwy 109 in Delta. Please visit www.barnesfuneralchapel.com to send condolences to Elisabeth’s family.
