Donald Ray Ramsey

Don Ramsey, born October 30, 1932, in Wewoka, to Raymond and Mabel (Bruce) Ramsey, passed away Saturday, September 20, 2025, in Seminole. Don was the third of six children. He was schooled at Tate Elementary, south of Wewoka, and graduated from Wewoka High School. In 1952, he attended, and graduated, from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, with a BA Degree. He married Virginia Sparkman, and they taught all elementary grades at Ong, for two years. Don also served as Ong’s principal.

The Ramseys moved to Elkhart, Kansas, where Don taught high school and junior high school as the couple’s first of four children arrived during the next several years.

Don had pastored the Byng Assembly of God, Ada, during his time at Ong. When the family moved to Kansas, Don accepted the pastorate of the Texican Assembly of God until he moved his family to Arizona to serve as an Assembly of God missionary to the Navajo Indian Tribe on the reservation for seven years. He baptized more than fifty converts before moving his family and ministry to Phoenix, Arizona, to accept the presidency of the All-Tribe Indian Bible College. The Ramseys opened the Cameron Assembly of God mission while Don taught school at Tuba City, Arizona, and evangelized among many Navajo families on that reservation. The Bible college Don and Virginia oversaw grew with a new campus and increased enrollment as Indian students from many tribes arrived to study the Bible and graduate to spread the Gospel in many native communities.

Don hoped to retire from the classroom after fifty years of service, teaching in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Alaska, but he accepted a call to teach several courses at Seminole State College, then to substitute teach at the Seminole High School until his wife needed his full attention for her declining health.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia; two daughters, Rebecca Ramsey, and Deborah MonBarren; and three sisters, Jean Avelene Andrews, Vincille Poole, and Wanda Smith.

Don is survived by his sons, Stephen Ramsey, and David Ramsey; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; a brother, Jim Ramsey; a sister, Shirley Ann Patton; his dear friend, Ron Simek; and many other family members and friends.

Services will be Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. at the Prague Assembly of God Church, with Rev Kevin Wehrli officiating. With burial at 1:00 P.M. at Oakwood Cemetery in Wewoka. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole.