John Ramsey Jr.

John L. Ramsey, Jr., the second of three children and only son, was born September 15, 1944 in Pittsburgh, PA to the late John L. Ramsey, Sr. and Brazelia Sessions Ramsey. He peacefully passed to eternal life on December 26, 2020 with his wife and daughter by his side.

John and his beloved sisters, Cassandra and Deborah, were baptized on the same day by their uncle, Rev. Brister Pogue, a Methodist minister. They attended Warren United Methodist Church until they graduated from high school. Later in life, however, by John’s personal expression of faith and new relationship with the Lord, he was saved by God.

John attended Pittsburgh Public Schools and graduated from Schenley High School. He later attended and graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh as a graphic commercial artist. He met and married his beloved wife, Marlene Scott Ramsey, to whom he was married for over 53 years until his death. Together they raised their only child, their daughter Carmen.

Unable to find work in his field, he was hired by Westinghouse Airbrake. Although he was quiet and low-keyed, John was blessed to earn other positions in the telecommunications industry. For 18 years he worked for Western Electric, a division of Bell Telephone and AT&T, as a telephone tester and repairman. With the divestiture of Western Electric, John, along with several coworkers, was asked to join AT&T’s Computer Center in Reading, PA where he tested computer chips. For several years he worked in Reading during the week and traveled home to Marlene on weekends. John continued to do freelance art for businesses and free art work for churches in Pittsburgh and community centers in Reading.

John was an avid billiards player, enjoyed golfing, and took pride in maintaining an immaculate yard until his health prevented him from landscaping. He was a sharp dresser and kept a collection of monogrammed alpaca sweaters that were always kept neatly folded and stored in individual zippered bags.

John was proceeded in death by his parents and sister Cassandra McKeever. He leaves to celebrate his life and cherish his memory: his devoted wife Marlene Scott Ramsey; loving daughter Carmen Ramsey Ellington; his sister Deborah Ramsey (Will McKeever); nephews and nieces Marlon, Michelle and Mario McKeever, and Jamie McKeever Wright; and a host of loving relatives and friends.

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