Patricia Olander Ramsay

Patricia Olander Ramsay passed away on Friday March 15 2013, 2 days prior to her 79th birthday. Her Mother named her Patricia as she was born on St. Patricks Day in 1934.

She is survived by the love of her life, her husband of 61 years, Harold Printz Ramsay, her sister Darlene Olander Bidwell, her children Constance Swank Lyman, Robert E. Ramsay, Susan P. Ramsay, their spouses: Chuck Lyman, Mary Ramsay, and Steve Gunn respectively, and 4 grandchildren: Gregory Swank, Robert W. Ramsay, Eric Swank, and Mekenna Ramsay. She is preceded in death by her eldest sister Donna Olander O’Malley and infant son Robert Edgar Ramsay who passed after 2 days of life in Fairbanks Alaska.

Patricia lived a dynamic life focused on family and a successful career which she built with her husband. Born in a family of strong women, and one of three daughters to parents Francis Wynia Olander and Royal Dwight Olander in 1934, she married 19 year old Harold Ramsay in 1952 at the age of 17 in Des Plaines, Illinois. Patricia lived in Alaska in the early years of her marriage where Harold was stationed with the US Air Force. Many years later after a successful career as a bank manager in Des Plaines, IL, Patricia and her husband Harold refurbished an older tavern in Schaumburg, IL, and along with her sister Darlene and brother in law Walter Schauer, built it into a successful family restaurant, Ye Olde Settlers Inn. They moved on to own and operate 3 restaurants in their career adding the Log Cabin Inn (Wellsboro, PA) and Stemmermans Restaurant (Wilmington, NC) to their list of adventures.

Patricia and Harold had the marriage that we all hope for in our dreams. They shared much of their life along side each other, and together became competitive trap shooters, culminating with Patricia beating out not only her female competitors, but finished first place in the NC Annie Oakley Trap Shoot, ahead of all male shooters in her division. She was recognized by firearms manufacturer Baretta USA several times for finishing first in major trap shooting competitions while using a Beretta shotgun, and was awarded with various Beretta firearms as recognition of her accomplishments.

With such career and social accomplishments often associated to the careers and hobbies of men, Patricia was the personification of femininity, dignity, and class. She leaves behind cherished family and friends who respect her as much as they love her. We will miss her, and are all better for having been part of her life.

Mass of Resurrection will be 10:30 am Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 6650 Carolina Beach Rd., Wilmington, NC 28412.

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Wilmington Funeral & Cremation, 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403.