Gene S. RamsbeyGene S. Ramsbey, 91, passed away with his loving wife and family by his side on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at the Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester.
Born in South Bend, Gene was the son of Merle G. and Irene J. Stickley Ramsbey.
In 1950, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served in Korea during the Korean War as a master sergeant. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense, UN and Korean Service medals. He was honorably discharged in 1954.
Gene would go on to attend Purdue University and graduate with his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering. He then graduated from Michigan State University with his master of business administration degree.
On Jan. 24, 1953, in Hamlet, Gene would marry Lynette J. Shei. They would make South Bend their home before moving to the Plymouth area in 1965. They had five children: Diane, Barbara, Dawn, Mark and Paul.
Gene worked for the Bendix Corporation and Zimmer, as an engineer for 47 years; working his way from a blueprint clerk in 1946 to a senior engineer when he retired in 1993.
He was a master mason in the Plymouth-Kilwinning Lodge #149 and a member of the Plymouth Church of the Brethren, the Izaak Walton League, the Acres Land Trust, the Potawatomi Wildlife Park and the Nature Conservancy.
Gene is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lynette, of North Manchester; and their children: Diane L. Quance, of Warsaw; Dawn M. (Scott) Helm, of Elkhart; Mark T. (Mai) Ramsbey, of Sunnyvale, Calif.; and Paul D. (Rayelene) Ramsbey, of Pipestone, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and brother, Thomas W. (Theil) Ramsbey, of Smithfield, Ri.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Richard M. (Phyllis) Ramsbey; daughter, Barbara A. Ihnen; and grandson, Kyle D. Ihnen.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. EST on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 20 at the Plymouth Church of the Brethren, 1130 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, with the Revs. Tom Anders and Paul Nye officiating. Visitation will resume one hour prior.
Burial will be in the New Oak Hill Cemetery, Plymouth, at a later date.
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Memorials to the Plymouth Public Library, 201 N. Center St., Plymouth, IN 46563; or the Potawatomi Wildlife Park, 16998 State Road 331, Tippecanoe, IN 46570.
Condolences may be sent to the family through the website: www.johnson-danielson.com.
