This collection contains papers belonging to Robert L. Ramey who served in World War II, had a career as a tobacconist, and was active in local government and community activities in Greenville, North Carolina. Papers include correspondence (1938, 1960s, 1990s, 2013), deeds (1950s), photographs, certificates, an oral history on CD done in 2015, clippings, paper items related to World War II, and 2 panoramic photographs of Scottish Rite members in New Bern (1958, 1965).
Robert Lee "Bob" Ramey was born October 1, 1923, in Danville, Virginia, to Lewis Irvin Ramey and Bertha Jeffress Ramey. He lived in Greenville, North Carolina, from 1955 until his death on September 20, 2019. He was married to Charlotte Hudgins Ramey and they had two daughters Jean Ramey Wilkerson and Barbara Lee Ramey.
During World War 2, Ramey joined the military as a member of the United States Army Air Corps 8th Air Force 20th Fighter Group as a pilot. After his service he worked as a tobacconist for 41 years before retiring from AC Monk Tobacco. In his retirement, Ramey took part in a variety of events and organizations relating to his veteran status. He attended reunions and was a member of the United States Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was very involved with community activities including St. James United Methodist Church, the Greenville Golden K Kiwanis Club, was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Crown Point Masonic Lodge #708 A.F. and A.M., the Sudan Temple in New Bern, and a past president of the Pitt County Shrine Club.
Ramey was elected to the Greenville City Council, and served on the City Planning and Zoning Board for 10 years, the Board of Trustees with Pitt Community College for two terms, on the Board of Directors of East Carolina Vocational Center for three terms, and on the Sheppard Memorial Library Board for a number of years.
Source: Robert Lee Ramey's obituary in "The Daily Reflector" on September 25, 2019.
This collection includes a DVD-R containing a recording of an oral history dated 2015 and was provided by Robert L. Ramey. Also included is a scrapbook of clippings along with other items in the collection that are related to World War 2. There are a variety of certificates that were awarded to Ramey pertaining to a variety of Masonic brotherhoods and the Brothers of the Brush of Farmville along with certificates of recognition from Saint James Methodist Church. The collection includes flight charts, documents that pertain to Ramey's veteran life and affairs, documents relating to his time on Greenville's City Council and on the board of trustees at Pitt Technical Institute. Correspondence from Governor Dan Moore, post cards, correspondence from family and friends, and photos of family, friends and the Greenville City Council are among the papers.
Of particular note is a patent for a coffee pot resembling a French press and a commemorative invitation to the presidential inauguration of George W. Bush. A newsletter, a membership card for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America, and a proclamation declaring June 12, 2014 World War II Veterans Appreciation Month are included in the papers.
November 1, 2021, 0.35 cubic feet; This collection contains papers belonging to Robert L. Ramey who served in World War II, had a career as a tobacconist, and was active in local government and community activities in Greenville, North Carolina. Papers include correspondence (1938, 1960s, 1990s, 2013), deeds (1950s), photographs, certificates (1940s, 1970s-1990s), an oral history on CD done in 2015, clippings, items related to World War II (1943 military poem, 1944 mass-produced letter from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to the Allied Expeditionary Force, 1942 Ordnance Survey Map of Midlands, England, and a scrapbook of clippings related to the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Hitler's forces and Prime Minister Chamberlain's efforts to avoid war), and 2 panoramic photographs of Scottish Rite members in New Bern (1958, 1965). Gift of Barbara L. Ramey.
Gift of Barbara L. Ramey
Processing done by Casey Harwick, February 2023
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.