Walter Houston "Jiggs" Ramsey Sr.

WALTER HOUSTON "JIGGS" RAMSEY SR. passed away April 1, 2014. He was born Oct. 23, 1918 in Bauxite, Ark. He attended the University of Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University from 1938-1942 where he excelled in sports. At OBU, he was captain of the OBU football team and received a degree in chemical engineering. In 1941 he met the love of his life, Martha Whiteley. They wed in 1942 and remained married for 71 years. He was a WWII Navy veteran and worked for 35 years for the Federal Government at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland as a Civil Servant where he tested aeronautical and military equipment. He worked with Wernher Von Braun on the first solid rocket fuel propellant for the space program and also worked with Charles Lindberg who was a predecessor to space age technology. He tested the moon buggy, space suits, and was a pioneer in testing the effect of rapid acceleration on astronauts. He retired from APG in 1977 but continued his passion for farming, horses and raising cattle. He is predeceased by his wife, Martha Whiteley Ramsey; sister, Kay Curtis. He is survived by his brother, Carl B. Ramsey (Virginia); sister, Dean White; son, Walter H. "Jiggs" Ramsey Jr.; daughter, Becca Ramsey Bane (Shannon); five grandchildren, Lisa Schaffer, Luke Ramsey, Clint Burns, Jason Burns, Amy Burns Lovelace; and a host of grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held April 7, 2:30 p.m., at New Friendship Baptist Church, 7400 Friendship Road, Benton (Shaw Community), Ark. Contributions can be made to the New Friendship Cemetery Association. Guests may register at www.caruth-hale.com.