David Allen Ramsey

David Allen Ramsey, age 80, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2015, while a resident at Chateau Grove Assisted Living Facility in Barboursville, WV. He was born September 11, 1934 in Huntington, WV, the son of the late Cecil Lyle Ramsey, Sr. and the late Henrietta Shore Ramsey. David was also preceded in death by his brother, Cecil Lyle Ramsey, Jr. who died on November 5, 2014. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Barbara Anspach Ramsey of Huntington. Also surviving are his two nieces and their husbands, Jean and Alan Simmons of Huntington and Mary and Phil Krinkie of Shoreview, MN; great-nephew Mark Simmons (and wife Rebekah) of Cincinnati, OH; great-niece Elizabeth Simmons of Philadelphia, PA; great-niece Elizabeth Krinkie of Shoreview, MN; and great-great niece and nephew, Eleanor Simmons and James Simmons of Cincinnati, OH. David graduated from Huntington High School in 1952 where he was head drum major in the band, and then from Marshall College (now University) with a BA in Psychology in 1956. While at Marshall he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity which awarded him their Delta Beta alumni award. David also graduated from West Virginia University with an MS in Psychology in 1957. Prior to beginning his professional career, he enlisted in the West Virginia National Guard and entered active duty service in 1957 under the six month Reserve Forces Act program and thereafter transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve having accepted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. Upon relocating to Pittsburgh, PA, David continued Army Reserve status with the Pennsylvania National Guard serving as Executive Officer of a line company and later as a 1st Lieutenant until he received his Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army in 1969. David’s professional career as a clinical psychologist began at Huntington State Hospital in 1958 until his relocation to Pittsburgh in 1963 to become Coordinator of Evaluation Services with the Vocational Rehabilitation Center. In 1967 he accepted a new position with the University of Pittsburgh as Assistant Director of Education and Training in the Vocational Rehabilitation division of the School of Education. Beginning in 1972, he began service as Coordinator of Rehabilitation Services for Physically Handicapped Students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and also as a clinical psychologist in private practice. In 1981 he became Supervisor of Outpatients in the Southwest Communities Mental Health and Mental Retardation Programs, a position from which he retired. During his employment with Southwest Communities, he received his PhD in Counseling Psychology from Clayton University in 1983. David grew up in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Huntington. In Pittsburgh he was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon, where he sang in the choir. Before leaving Pittsburgh to return to WV, he affiliated with the Anglican Church in North America and did graduate work in Sacred Theology. A graveside memorial service at Woodmere Cemetery will be conducted by the Rev. Jack Lipphardt of Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church at a later date. The family would like to thank the staff at Chateau Grove for their loving care. Klingel-Carpenter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.