You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give – Eleanor Roosevelt
Our beautiful mother, Dean Ramseur Fox of Huntersville, NC, passed away on June 21, 2015, Father’s Day, while surrounded by her family, 17 days after her diagnosis with lung cancer. No husband or father was ever more devoted to anyone’s care in the last days including in the difficult months prior to diagnosis than our father.
Dean (Willa Dean) was born 6/18/35 in Hickory, NC to Jennie Chapman Ramseur and Earl Alexander Ramseur. She is survived by her husband, Charles Alexander Fox of Huntersville, formerly of Bermuda Run and Morganton, NC, by her daughters, Kimberly Fox and Angela Fox both of Huntersville, NC and by her siblings, Jo-An Ramseur Benfield and Gary Ramseur. She was preceded in death by her parents and by siblings Larry Ramseur (teenaged brother) and Betty Jean Ramseur Brendle.
Dean was raised in Hickory and Morganton and graduated from Lenoir Rhyne College with a degree in elementary education. She married Charles in 1956 and was a wonderful, supportive wife, mother and homemaker. She moved 13 times for her husband’s various positions in the textile business in the Carolinas each time making a comfortable home for us. She had her realtor’s license and ran an executive recruiting business with Charles prior to retirement. Mom finally got to see Europe, Ireland and the great American West which Dad, who had travelled enough already, made sure to show her. She treasured the collage he made of their photos from one of those trips.
Dean’s smile and her dimples matched her sunny disposition and kind, gentle spirit. As a youngster she played with her cousins on Uncle John Ritchie’s farm in Iron Station, once was allowed to have a baby goat as a pet, loved to look at pretty clothes in the magazines. Charles remembers seeing the three stair-step Ramseur girls walking to elementary school down Valdese Street in Morganton years before he met her. She worked in the Morganton jewelry store and lived at home in order to put herself through college where she graduated with honors. She was a great cook and homemaker and put her husband and her girls before herself in everything. Always a beauty, she had not the slightest vanity as bravely demonstrated when she got Bell’s Palsy some years ago. Dean loved to read, loved her flowers and decorating her home, was very kind and empathetic, a great listener, to everyone she met. Her family could not have imagined the extent of her courage, endurance and utmost grace until her final battle. The gift she gave us in witnessing these things will last forever. Dean loved the Lord and believed in His promises.
Since moving to be close to her daughters she loved watching the kids at the fountain in Birkdale, cheering Davidson basketball, showing off Dad’s art work, and attending the Mt. Zion “Ladies Breakfast” each week. Special love and thanks go to her Stitch Group and Garden Club in Bermuda Run, The Last Monday Lunch Bunch and the Ted Philpott AGAPE Sunday School Class at Knollwood Baptist Church (Winston-Salem), The Don Bridger Sunday School Class at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church (Cornelius) – those two classes being the most wonderful, caring people anyone will ever know, CNA Jeremiah at Novant Presbyterian (Main – Charlotte), Dr. Bill Mitchell whose kindness and bedside manner made her last days more peaceful, the wonderful staff on the 7th floor at Novant Presbyterian (Main), special staff and compassionate medics at Autumncare in Cornelius and family friend and angel, Judy Hodson.
Services will be Thursday, July 2, 11 a.m., Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Cornelius with a reception to follow in the Family Life Center. A service will be held at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem on Sunday, July 26 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dean to the American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28210.
Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com.