By Betsi Werling

It was a pleasure to interview Mary Ramseyer, as I have known her since she was my cheerleading coach at UVA Wise. We have shared a special friendship for many years.

When were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born on October 25, 1936. Until second grade, I went to Pandora schools. Then we moved to Worthington, Ohio, for one year. After Worthington, we moved to Findlay, Ohio, where I attended Findlay schools. In eighth grade, we moved to Bluffton, where I graduated from Bluffton High School in 1954 and then went on to Bluffton College and graduated in 1958. 

Can you share a few stories about your childhood, activities, family and friends?
One special memory of my childhood was while we lived in Pandora. We lived very close to town, and we would walk in our jammies to the post office to get our mail. I took piano lessons and really played for myself. I had an uncle who was a violinist, but I never took an interest in that instrument. 

I remember when I lived in Findlay, I would go to the YMCA and I learned to swim and play ping pong. During my years in Bluffton, I was active in school and was part of the Future Homemakers of America. Several of us girls had the honor of going to the State Future Homemakers Convention. I was also a cheerleader and enjoyed singing in the choir. Our house was on Cherry Street, and our front yard was where the boys and girls would play football and hangout. 

It was in 1947, and when we moved to Bluffton, we were one of the only families who had divorced parents. Both of my ancestors on my mother’s and father's sides were all Swiss Mennonites. My grandfather came from Switzerland. First Mennonite warmly received us as a family. 

Bluffton was a good place to grow up. It really was. In those times, parents did different jobs, but seemed to be the same socio-economic status. 

How did you meet your spouse?
The summer before my senior year, I started dating Bill. I remember we went to Camp Friedenswald together because churches were going as groups to help build the Camp. Bill helped build the dining hall where many groups now hangout. 

Bill and I had been dating, and it was graduation day. My mother had made me a new white dress. And Bill came down and gave me an orchid, and an orchid at that time was very special. On the way to school, he wanted to go into First Mennonite Church. This is where he proposed. 

We joined First Mennonite Church when we were teenagers. When Bill died, I felt I should join the church again. They asked us to tell a story about the church. And right where I was standing is the same place that Bill asked me to marry him. 

What was your career?

We went to the University of Missouri, where we both had graduate assistantships. Bill graduated with a PhD, and I received my Master’s degree. My work in education was at several levels. My first four years were spent teaching in elementary school. 

When we moved to Wilmington, Ohio, I taught for 19 years at the Laurel Oaks Vocational School and started the child care program there. While living in Ohio, the state felt there was a crisis of pregnant teenagers. So they created the GRADS program where the emphasis was for the students to graduate, become employed and be a responsible and caring parent. In my later years, we moved to Wise, Virginia, where Bill was hired as Clinch Valley College’s first football coach, and I served as the Director of Teacher Education. 

Describe how you came to be in Wise, Virginia.
We came to visit our son Randy, who was working with a federal judge in Abington. He let Bill know that Clinch Valley College was going to start a football team in Wise, Va. Bill told Randy they would never hire a Northerner, but Bill got the job. People on the interview committee remembered that Bill said he thought that he could take the football team to the Playoffs within 5 years. One member thought he was a little arrogant saying that, but sure enough he accomplished it. Not everyone was initially happy that football came to Wise. After a year, one community member said bringing football was the best thing to happen to Clinch Valley College because its name was all over the media. 

What took you to South Carolina?
During one of our vacations with the family at Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina, we fell in love with property that was not yet developed. So we decided to buy a plot. After those years in Wise, we decided it was time to retire, and Bill designed our home in South Carolina on the beach. We spent many wonderful retirement years there. 

How many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren do you have?
We have three children who all graduated from Wilmington High School. Jeri and Cindy went to Bluffton College and Randy went to Wilmington College. The girls pursued careers in education and Randy became a prosecuting attorney. We have eight grandchildren and 18 great-grands. Education must run in the family because several of my grandkids are in education. 

Where is one of the coolest places you traveled with Bill?
Switzerland. Initially, we just went on our own. We rented a car, and one evening we got to this place to stay, and it had a large window. The next morning, I looked out the window and across the road was a huge castle. We got to go visit the castle, and it was awesome. It reminded me of a castle that Cinderella would live in. We went back to Switzerland for two years for about five months each year. For Bill to coach football. The football players would tell us fantastic places to go, and we would just explore. It was a wonderful experience. 

How do you keep yourself busy in retirement?
Top of my list is the time spent with family and friends. When the kids or grands have something

going on, I try to be there. I can honestly say that even the youngest great-grands know me. I had a very lucky life. My family has been my biggest blessing and continues to be that for me. 

I volunteer at Restore and Et Cetera Shop. I have also spent over 40 years working with the National Youth Advocate Program that had its roots in Bluffton. It encompasses 60 programs and services offered to youth, adults and families to meet their unique needs. Their mission is caring for people, connecting communities and promoting peace. The First Mennonite Church has been an important part of our lives. I participate in a book club. I had a wonderful trip to Kenya, which is my second favorite trip in the world. My life has been very full. 

What's one thing that has changed the most from your childhood to today?
Technology. I can tell Alexa to play my music from the 40s, 50s and 60s and even the 30s. Technology has made it easier to connect with people on the phone, internet and Zoom. 

Mary closed our time with these final thoughts.
Each place we lived, we developed connections and made friends. The students we taught and who also taught us created learning that has never stopped.