James Benjamin Ramsey

James Benjamin Ramsey, born in Santa Cruz, California on June 16, 1941, died surrounded by family on June 18, 2019 at the age of 78 in Lincoln, CA. James was the loving husband of Bernice Bell Ramsey. He was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Bardon and his parents Alfred (Ben) Ramsey and Margaret Ramsey. Jim is the father of Alan and Jason Ramsey.



As a young man, Jim was a member of the Santa Cruz Sea Scouts and worked on the Santa Cruz wharf. He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1959. He was looking forwards to his 60 year reunion this summer. Jim attended Cabrillo College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Finance from San Francisco State University.



Jim met his lovely wife Bernice at Cabrillo College over a game of hearts in the student union. They married on August 1, 1964, at Saint Patrick's Church in Watsonville. They celebrated 54 years of marriage.



Jim was a lifelong banker, working first for the County Bank of Santa Cruz before opening Pajaro Valley Bank in Watsonville and Codding Bank of Rohnert Park. Jim retired as the Chief Financial Officer for First National Bank of Northern California in 2007. Jim was an officer and board member for the Western Payments Alliance, and a longstanding member of the American Bankers Association.



In retirement, Jim and Bernice traveled the world, mixing weeks long cruises with planes, trains, and bus tours. Their tours included most of Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean, the far east, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, and North, Central and South America. Jim and Bernice visited almost 40 states and more than 35 countries.



Jim was a lifelong supporter of scouting, from his own participation in cub scouts, to the sea scouts as a teenager, and then joining the boy scouts as an adult volunteer when his own children were of age. Jim participated in scouting long after his boys had grown up and moved on. He was most proud of his membership in the Order of the Arrow and participation in the Wood Badge national leadership program.



Jim enjoyed architecture, including buildings, bridges, and lighthouses. He also enjoyed navel architecture and after years of setting up his woodworking shop, had started building his second wooden model sailboat. He was also an active member of his community's genealogy club, computer club, and its investments club, three subjects which he enjoyed greatly.



Jim would have been a 29-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous this year. He was particularly attached to The Over 50 Group in Auburn, California. Jim attended the Monday meeting in Auburn without fail, and then after the meeting a smaller group of regulars would take a long, leisurely lunch. This was support, fellowship, camaraderie, and catharsis.



Jim is survived by his wife Bernice and his sons Alan and Jason, his daughter-in-law Marcy Ramsey, grandchildren Marina and Alan Jr., and several nieces and nephews.



Friends and family are welcome to attend the celebration of life on Saturday, July 13 from 11:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel, 6920 Destiny Drive, Rocklin, California, 95677.