Weldon Ramey

Weldon Ramey, was born February 1, 1926, in Van Buren. He passed away Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Fayetteville. His parents were Homer and Leona Ramey of Van Buren. Weldon attended public school in Van Buren. He graduated in 1944 and entered the U.S. Navy in May of 1944. He saw combat in the South Pacific. Two years later, he was discharged from the Navy and returned home to Van Buren. In May of 1946, he entered the University of Arkansas. After his first year at the University he was home for the summer and met a young girl named Mary Donna Kelly who was five years his junior. They were married five weeks after meeting. No one gave this marriage a chance. It lasted 63 years until Mary's untimely death in 2010. Weldon received a commission in the Air Force from Air Force ROTC at the U of A in 1949, and a degree in government in 1950. The Korean War broke out in 1950 and Weldon was called to active duty by the Air Force. He was granted a regular commission (tenure) and decided to make the Air Force a career. He and Mary were stationed at various bases in the United States and overseas in the Philippines, Italy, and Turkey. Weldon served in combat zones during his two years in the Navy during World War II and during his year in Vietnam at the time of the Tet Offensive. He had a short joint assignment with the U.S. Army in Korea as the war there was winding down. For his first assignment in the Air Force, Weldon and others were selected to attend a twelve-month encampment at Syracuse University. The encampment was several miles from the main campus but it was strictly administered by university officials for academic excellence both on site and at the main campus. The encampment was composed of Russians who spoke little to no English and his twelve month assignment was to learn Russian. At the end of the year, Weldon had a good knowledge of the Russian language and was awarded a Bachelor's degree from Syracuse University in Russian Language and area studies (his second bachelor's degree). His assignments in the Air Force were mainly under the direction of the National Security Agency and the Air Force Security Service. In 1973, Weldon had two years active duty with the Navy, and twenty-four with the Air Force and he had served several years in the rank of full colonel. He decided to retire from active duty and returned home to Van Buren. Upon retiring, Weldon taught history and government at Winslow High School. After five years, he resigned to accept a position as Executive Director of the Community Development Corporation (CDC) in Fort Smith. Mary was stricken with Parkinson's disease and as her condition worsened, Weldon resigned from the CDC to care for Mary full time. On March 4, 2010, death claimed Weldon's beloved Mary. Two years later, he moved to Fayetteville to be near his daughters. He is survived by two daughters, Donna Marie Ramey of Fayetteville, and Krissena Ramey Marshell of Fort Smith; five grandchildren, Ramey, Brooklyn, Johnathan, Ashtyn, and Tristan; and five great-grandchildren, Kyra, Ian, Barrett, Madison, and Mason Ramey. A private graveside service will held at Fairview Cemetery, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home in Van Buren. To place an online tribute, go to www.edwardsvan-alma.com.