Thelma Irene Wallace Ramsey was the second child born to Fern and Marshall Wallace in Santa Rosa, California, on Aug. 26, 1926.

Thelma passed peacefully at home in Lincoln, California, on Feb. 25, 2023.

Thelma is survived by daughter, Marsha Dixon-McGill of Lincoln, California; stepdaughters, Linnette Ramsey Collingsworth of Spanish Fork, Utah, and Shelley Ownsbey of Ukiah, California; and nine step-grandchildren.

Thelma is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Inesse Ramsey Duarte of Santa Rosa, California, Ruth Sharp of Fair Oaks, California, and Eudora Rutledge Sweeney of Angel’s Camp, California; and numerous nephews and nieces.

She was predeceased by husband, Robert Neal Ramsey, of Clearlake Oaks, California, brother Marshall Malcom Wallace of Carmichael, California, and stepson Edmond Neal Ramsey of Santa Rosa, California.

Thelma graduated from Santa Rosa High School in Santa Rosa, California, in 1943 at age 16. She moved to San Francisco volunteering as a Red Cross Gray Lady at the Oakland Naval Hospital and joined the Red Cross Motor Corps, Mare Island. Her daughter still cringes at the thought of her young mother driving a stick-shift bus on the hills of San Francisco.

Thelma soon returned home to attend Santa Rosa Junior College, graduating in 1946. She went to work as a bookkeeper for Albers Feed Mill then went on to work for the county of Sonoma in Santa Rosa for over 20 years. She was a 1980 graduate with a degree in political science from Sonoma State University.

In the late 1970s, Thelma met her third husband, Robert Neal Ramsey. They married in 1981 in Santa Rosa after Thelma’s retirement from the county of Sonoma and lived in Ft. Bragg, California.

She loved being on the coast, learned how to grow tomatoes in the ever-present summer fog, became active in the American Association of University Women, volunteered at the Artists Co-op of Mendocino, and served on the board of the California Lung Association Redwood Empire.

After Bob’s retirement, they built a home in Clearlake Oaks, California, on the water for easy access to boating. Thelma organized a crochet prayer shawl group for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lakeport.

The Ramseys were also never far from a camper, fifth-wheel or motorhome, traveling on road trips across the states and in 1989, started what would be an annual pilgrimage for 16 summers to Alaska.

During their six-month journeys north, Bob kept busy fishing for reds and halibut, and Thelma caught up with family and friends, crocheted, did crosswords, and was always there for daily fish cleaning and canning.

Beta Sigma Phi honored her in 2014 as a 60-year member by including her in their Diamond Circle Ritual.

Following the passing of husband, Bob, Thelma moved to Lincoln, California, in 2015.

At her request, there will be no services. Her ashes are to be interred with husband Bob at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, Santa Rosa, California.