Robert "Bob" Francis Ramay

Robert Francis Ramay passed away peacefully on August 20, 2025, at the age of 83. Born May 1, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, Bob was the beloved son of Ebbie Alexander Ramay and Frances Pollard Ramay. He is lovingly remembered as larger than life with a booming voice and quick-witted, fun-loving personality. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Bob also made countless lifelong connections and friendships throughout every stage of his life.

Bob began life on a small family farm in Horn Lake, Mississippi, surrounded by a large group of extended family and friends, and later joined by a sister, Joyce Ann. From the start, Bob benefitted from both his mother and grandmother, Annie Nelms Pollard, being teachers. Here he also learned a strong work ethic and began a lifetime of service to others, waking up before dawn to care for animals, his home and family.

At 14, Bob’s father, an engineer with the US Army Corps of Engineers, transferred from building levees along the Mississippi River to the Pentagon in Washington, DC, where he, among many projects, built missile silos across the United States. While the transition from rural Mississippi to Washington, DC wasn’t easy, Bob quickly gained friends at Annandale High School, many of whom he remained close with throughout his lifetime.

This move was transformative in other ways as Bob enrolled at The University of Virginia in 1959. During his years as a student, he majored in Aerospace Engineering and served as President of his fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, graduating in 1964. During his senior year, a fraternity brother convinced him to join him at an interview with a company focusing on a new field called “computers”. This began a 3-decade career at IBM, serving in many systems engineering, management and marketing roles.

Being an alum of The University was something Bob took great pride in. He routinely wore orange and navy, supported The University and was known to yell “WAHOOWAH” across crowded or not crowded rooms. He was equally passionate about UVA basketball as The University’s scientific advancements. The years as a student and UVA’s founder Thomas Jefferson inspired Bob to become a lifetime learner, and he devoted much of his life to studying everything from science, technology, history, politics, ecology, music to religion and spirituality. One of his prized possessions was his extensive library of books on these topics and more.

While a college student, Bob met the love of his life, Lucinda Lee “Cinda” Fowler, they were married at the National Cathedral in Washington in 1964, and Bob began his career with IBM. A short time later, he was called into active military service and joined the United States Navy. After officer candidacy school in San Diego, Bob was stationed for four years at the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, becoming a Lieutenant, and leading many strategic building projects in the Caribbean Sea. Working with the Construction Battalion, better known as the Seabees, he adopted their “can do” motto and tackled all aspects of life with this philosophy.

Cinda joined him in Puerto Rico, and there they welcomed their first two children, Virginia Lee in 1968 and Sarah Elizabeth in 1969. After leaving the service, the family settled in Charlottesville, and a third daughter, Laura Marie, was born in 1971. The family transferred with IBM to Millbrook, New York, and later, Tallahassee, Florida.

Bob’s devotion to all four of his girls was legendary, and he thrived being a girl dad. In the mid-1970s, he served as President of Meriweather Lewis Elementary School’s Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO). Building a barn for Virginia’s ponies, faithfully attending Sarah’s dance recitals and cheering Laura on at volleyball, softball, tennis and more were only a small portion of his devotion. Bob was always one to make his presence known at these events. When Virginia placed in horse shows, the announcer always paused after reading her name until everyone heard what he dubbed Bob’s famous “rebel yell”. He continued to show his love in big and small ways, coming home from work one day with a new car for the girls, only to surprise them with a red convertible Ford Mustang.

After the girls left for college, Bob and Cinda enjoyed a quieter life in Tallahassee. Bob joined many other former IBM friends working at Mainline Inc., until he retired and the couple moved to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, in Blairsville, Georgia, to be closer to the girls and grandchildren. He became a stalwart of the community, serving as President of the Union County Rotary Club, board member of the North Georgia Technical College, and a founding member of the local Navy Seabee Veterans Support Alliance Island X-3 organization who played a major role in getting “this great swarm going for all Seabee brothers and sisters in North Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina”. In later years, Bob became a faithful member of All Saints Lutheran Church. Among his many achievements were the creation of an annual military ball open to all Union County active-duty service men and women and veterans, the Rotary Club’s annual Veteran’s Day lunch also open to all veterans, and a walking park in the middle of town. He was particularly proud of the park’s access for the disabled and the planting of the Daffodil Project, honoring one million children who perished in the Holocaust.

Above all, Bob’s devotion to being of service to his family, friends and anyone needing a hand was deep and wide. His greatest joy was his grandchildren, and he took a keen interest in their interests and educational pursuits.

He is preceded in death by his wife Cinda and daughter Virginia Ramay Johnson, and lovingly remembered by daughters Sarah Ramay Duncan (Bartow) and Laura Ramay Garrett (Edgar), and grandchildren Mason Glover Johnson, Morgan Lee Johnson, Laura Lawson Duncan, Dabney Pollard Duncan, Marshall Edgar Garrett III and Elijah Robert Garrett. Bob’s strength, wit and warm, dynamic personality are also warmly remembered by extended family members and countless friends he made all along a life well-lived.

A celebration of life will soon be held, and he will be laid to rest with Cinda at the Georgia National Military Cemetery in Canton, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Bob’s name be made to the National Scleroderma Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Navy Seabee Veterans Support Alliance or Rotary International.

Arrangements for Mr. Robert Francis Ramay are entrusted to the care of In Their Honor Funeral & Cremation.