Charles "Buddy" Ramsay

Charles "Buddy" Ramsay, age 84, passed away suddenly on August 18, 2023, at home in Churchville, Maryland. Born in Maryland, he was the son of Charles and Hixene (Greer) Ramsay and husband of the late Ann (Bowman) Ramsay.  He was a proud graduate of the Kennard Dale High School class of 1957 and Harford Community College in 1964 with an accounting degree.  Buddy worked at Famous and Spang Insurance Agency from 1964 to 1979 and was co-owner from 1979 until he retired in 1999.  In 1972, he earned Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter certification from the University of Baltimore.  Buddy was a 3rd Degree Mason at the Esdraelon Lodge 176 in Cardiff, MD and was also a 32nd Degree Mason and past president of the Conowingo Scottish Rite Society in Harford County, MD.  He was a past president of the Harford Community College Alumni and Friends Association and served as the Alumni Representative to the Harford Community College Foundation Board of Directors. He and Ann established the Ramsay Family Endowment at Harford Community College that provides scholarships for deserving nursing students.  For decades, Buddy was active in the Hopewell United Methodist Church in Level, MD, where he sang in the choir and was the bookkeeper for many years.  Buddy served in the Havre de Grace Lions Club for over 30 years and was a past president.  Finally, he was a past president of the Al Cesky Scholarship Fund.  Buddy met the love of his life, Ann, at a bobby socks dance at Bel Air High School in 1958, and it was definitely love at first sight.  They were married in January 1959 and welcomed their only child Mark later that year.  In 1976, Buddy and Ann started taking care of their niece Kay Balderson and raised her as their daughter.  Buddy and Ann focused their lives on family, fun, fellowship and education.  They shared many passions together including spoiling their children and grandchildren, six trips to Glacier National Park and other venues to hike in the mountains, flying in Buddy’s airplane, many philanthropic and volunteer projects, and their beloved summer cabin on the Susquehanna River.  They loved to visit Mark and Patty at the many locations they lived in the US and Europe over the course of Mark’s Air Force career as well as Kay and her son Tyler in North Carolina.  Buddy and Ann’s world was turned upside down in August 2011 following a car accident in Delta, PA.  Ann passed away in February 2012 after 53 years of marriage, and Buddy was left with a broken heart until his death on 18 August.  By the grace of God, Buddy passed peacefully from this earth and is now with Ann so their lifelong love affair continues.  Together on earth they were a power couple who used their time and talents to make this area and our world a better place.  Words cannot express how much they are missed by so many people.  

Buddy is survived by his son, Mark (Patty) Ramsay; three grandchildren, Marianne (Andrew) Ziebell, Melissa (Kyle) Christoffersen, Jennifer (John) Altnow; two great-granddaughters, Sophie Ziebell, Aubrey Christoffersen; three great-grandsons, Finn Christoffersen, Patrick Christoffersen, Lee Altnow; three nieces, Judy Bowman, Susan (Christo) Sfestas, and Kay Balderson; and many loving cousins.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, William Greer Ramsay and niece, Diane Hall.
A celebration of Buddy’s life will be hosted by the family at Level Volunteer Fire Company, 3633 Level Village Road, Havre de Grace MD, 21078, on Friday September 8, 2023, starting at 4:00 p.m.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to two charities:
Harford Community College Foundation
Ramsay Family Endowment
401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD 21015

The John Carroll School  
Charles Ramsay Jr. Memorial Donation
703 East Churchville Rd, Bel Air, MD, 21014