Service Time:  10:00 A.M.
Day and Date:  Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Location:  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary - Russell
Guest Book Registration:  9 A.M. to  8 P.M. on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at the mortuary.
Family Greeting Visitors: 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. on Tuesday Aug. 11, 2009 at the mortuary
Burial:  Russell City Cemetery
Memorial:  V.F.W. Post #6240

Wilbern Ramsey, Sr., 80, of Russell, died on Saturday, August 8, 2009 at the Hays Medical Center.

Wilbern was born on August 28, 1928 in Pittsburg, Kansas, the son of Memory H. and Iva (Spence) Ramsey.  He grew up in the Parsons, Kansas area and graduated from Parsons High School.  Later he attended Pittsburg State University and acted as an assistant instructor for one semester.  He served in the Army during World War II in the European Theater spending much of his time in and around Italy.  After the war he returned home where he met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Leola M. Ashcraft on June 27, 1949 in Oswego, Kansas.  From this union they were blessed with five children Wilbern, Jr., Kenneth, Roger, Linda and Perry.  The family lived in Parsons for 25 years, Pittsburg, Kansas for 5 years and Russell for 46 years.  Wilbern was an electrician working for Laubhan Electric for 27 years.  He was a member of the Nazarene Church and life time member of the V.F.W. Post 6240.  Wilbern enjoyed tinkering and fixing things making him an all around handyman being fondly remembered as saying “If it is broke I can fix it”.  Most of all Wilbern enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren.

Surviving family include wife Leola of the home, sons Wilbern Ramsey, Jr. and wife Pam, Kenneth Ramsey and wife Cindy, Roger Ramsey and wife Raileene and Perry Ramsey and wife Valerie all of Russell; daughter Linda Christian and husband Carrol of Russell; brother Clarence “Dean” Ramsey of Parsons and sister Mary Dismore of Miami, Oklahoma; 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Ersel, Charles, Lloyd, twins Chester and Lester Ramsey, sisters May Smirl, Rachel Clugston and Nevada Jones.

A celebration of Wilbern’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell.  Burial will follow the service at the Russell City Cemetery.  Military rites will be performed by the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M to 8 P.M. on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at the mortuary with family present to greet visitors from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Tuesday evening.   Memorials may be given to the Russell V.F.W. post #6240 and sent in care of the mortuary.  Condolences may be sent via email by going to www.pvpmortuary.com.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral arrangements.