Vice Admiral William E. "Bill" Ramsey, USN (ret.) passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at the age of 86.  What a rich, wonderful legacy! This includes a loving, engaged and productive family: a wife, "Scottie"; two surviving sons and their wives, Tim & Robyn and Chris & Tammy; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren (and counting). His love, protection, support and encouragement is a huge loss.

His legacy also includes eye-popping professional achievements. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1953, he painted a masterpiece career highlighted by the following events and milestones: over 39 years active duty, fifteen deployments, over 4,700 flying hours, 912 carrier landings (258 at night), 138 combat sorties, earning his wings in Pensacola and first Commanding Officer of USS Eisenhower. He retired as the Deputy Commander of the both the U.S. Space Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command. Surely, he would frame his accomplishments as mere artifacts of a humble naval officer following through on an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, faithfully and loyally.

His legacy also includes meaningful engagement in the Pensacola community for the last 22 years. He served as a trustee of The Foundation of Naval Aviation at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. He was part of the vestry of Christ Episcopal Church and engaged in multiple committees at the church. He was a member of The Brotherhood of St. Andrews, the Southwest Rotary Club and The Mountain Group.

His legacy is weighted heavily in favor of an amazing love story between he and Scottie. Their love was 63 years of enchanted, beautiful dance. They cherished one another. Bill was infinitely better because of Scottie and Scottie was infinitely better because of Bill. Together, they were a force of love and wholesomeness.

Anyone who met Bill, let alone knew him, understands that his legacy is largely about relationships and how he made people feel. Whether it be President Carter or Admiral Rickover or Ed Clexton (retired Admiral and the USS Eisenhower Executive Officer while Bill commanded her) or the plane captain who helped strap a young Ensign Ramsey to his FJ Fury or the man or woman who happened to be grabbing a coffee at Tom Thumb at the same time as Bill, and many, many others, Bill assumed the best. Man, did people respond! You could not help but want to live to that pure, positive, lofty expectation.

Bill is preceded in death by a son, William Blake Ramsey; brother, James B. Ramsey; as well as a brother-in-law, Thomas B. Booth.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy "Scottie" Ramsey of Pensacola; son and daughter-in-law, Timothy and Robyn Ramsey of Chantilly, VA; son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Tammy Ramsey of Argyle, TX; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Suzanna and Christopher Bell of Chantilly; granddaughter, Elizabeth Ramsey of Philadelphia; grandsons, Christopher Blake Ramsey and William Ramsey of Argyle; great-grandsons, Matthew Bell and Carter Bell of Chantilly; brother- and sister-in-law, Peter and Carolyn Booth of Pensacola.

Memorial Service will be 1:00pm Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at Christ Episcopal Church, 18 W. Wright St., Pensacola, FL.
Committal Service will be 11:00am on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the United States Naval Academy Columbarium, Annapolis, MD. Reception at the Naval Academy Club will immediately follow.

Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Ramsey, Blake Ramsey (posthumous), Chris Ramsey, Jim Ramsey (posthumous), Pete Booth, Ed Clexton, Mark Dowhy, Wiley Hogeman, Art Miltenberger, Lou Sarosdy (posthumous), Tim Padden (posthumous).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Flight Academy or Christ Episcopal Church, 18 W. Wright St., Pensacola, FL (850) 432-5115.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Fr. Walt Kindergan; Regency Hospice, especially Erica Dake, RN, and John Griffin, RN; Admiral Ramsey's Nurse Assistants at Willowbrooke Court, especially Kentrell McMillian, Christine Barker, Kyndall Martin and Dylan Smith.