William H. Ramsey

William H. Ramsey, 94, of North Little Rock, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2017. He was born February 11, 1923 in Marshall, Texas, to Henry Harold and Annie McCalister Ramsey, the oldest and last surviving of four brothers. In 1930, the family moved to Atlanta, Texas, where his father was the local manager for the Electric Utility Co. After graduating from high school in 1940, he enrolled in Arkansas State Teachers College (currently UCA) and was a student at the time of Pearl Harbor. In the spring of 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet. After graduating from flying school, he was assigned to a Troop Carrier squadron in India, where he flew the "Hump" from India into China. He was a 20-year-old pilot at the time. After the war, he re-entered ASTC to complete his education, where he met his future wife, Betty Jean Swaim of England, Ark. After college, he re-entered active military duty. As a career military officer, he flew in WW2, Korea and Vietnam, amassing over 14,000 flying hours and three distinguished flying crosses. From 1960 to 1968, he was assigned to the Special Missions unit at Andrews AFB, flying executive transport aircraft carrying heads of state, generals, admirals, and cabinet-level officials all over the world. In 1970 he was promoted to Colonel and assigned to Yokota, Japan, as Commander of the 610th Military Airlift Support Squadron. Upon returning to the US, he served as comptroller for the 63rd Military Airlift Wing at Norton AFB. He also served as Base Commander before retiring in 1975. After retiring in 1975, he returned to North Little Rock, where he became actively involved with his alma mater's alumni association, serving on its board for nine years and as president in 1978. He was also an avid woodworker, participating with his club in making and distributing toys at Christmas to children at hospitals, an orphanage, and the Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock. He was an active member of the Daedalians, a fraternal order of retired military pilots. In 1986 he was the organizer and host for the national convention of the China Burma India Hump Pilots Association held in Little Rock. He served on the board of directors for three years and was vice president in 1984. Until health issues forced him to stop, he had been an active participant in the Jr. ROTC awards programs for high school students each spring. He was a familiar sight at many schools in Central Arkansas at graduation time. He also volunteered for 23 years at Jacksonville AFB at the medical clinic information desk, supporting active and retired personnel. He was an active member of the Park Hill Baptist Church, where he served as usher, greeter, and taught a men's Sunday school class. He is survived by his wife Betty of 68 years, sons Tom and his wife Jeannie of Houston, Texas.; Dennis and his wife Renku and their daughter Electra of Eugene, Ore., and William of Austin, Texas, and his daughter Alexandra, and her husband Corey, and their daughter Briley, of Bella Vista, Ark. Viewing will be held Friday, March 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home, 1921 N. Main St., in North Little Rock. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 11, at 3 p.m. at Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Monday, March 13 at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, 1501 W. Maryland Ave., North Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.