Dr. Paul Lee Ramsey was born in Frankfort Indiana on January 30, 1938 to Orpha (Isgrigg) and William Ramsey. He passed away peacefully on May 20, 2023 at Baptist Medical Center, Nassau Campus, Amelia Island, FL. He married Sarah Lynch on March 7, 1964 in Plainfield, Ind.
Paul grew up on a family farm along with his brother William and sister Lena Mae. He attended Jackson High School where he developed a lifelong passion for basketball. He became a star high school player, and was proud that he had more assists than anyone on the team, which he said was a good rule for life. Paul also set the state record for consecutive free throw points with his signature underhand shooting style.
Basketball earned Paul a scholarship to Oregon State. Leaving his hometown for the first time, Paul boarded a train and headed west. He initially studied geology, but realized that independence and helping others were important qualities that he wanted to pursue. He switched to pre-med and went on to attend Indiana University School of Medicine. While in medical school, Paul met his lovely wife Sarah to whom he was married for fifty-nine years. During his medical internship Paul was drafted to serve in Vietnam. He was proud of his service and credited that experience with helping him choose his specialty, orthopedics. Upon return, Paul completed his orthopedics training and moved to Wilmington, Delaware to begin his career in academic medicine. As Associate Surgeon at AI DuPont Nemours Children’s Hospital, Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at the VA Hospital and Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Jefferson Medical College he developed a passion for teaching and research. During this time Paul developed “Ramsey’s Safe Zone,” a test for congenital hip dislocation which is ubiquitous in orthopedic practice today. After several years, he decided to start a private practice closer to the homes where he and Sarah grew up. Paul and Sarah moved to Anderson, Indiana where he became a leader in the medical community. Paul loved the independence of owning his medical practice, which allowed him to spend time with family and friends, serve the community, and play golf, the one sport he loved more than basketball.
Following retirement, he and his wife Sarah moved to Florida and Colorado and spent time playing golf, skiing and frequently visiting family and friends. While traveling back and forth, they loved plotting out extended road trips across the US. Some of Paul’s favorite drives and parks included Santa Fe, the Badlands, Crazy Horse, and other sites like Arches and Canyonlands. Paul was an inventive and creative thinker who loved to explore, try new restaurants and foods, and tell fantastic stories.
Paul is survived by his wife Sarah, son William Ramsey and his wife Monique of New Orleans, LA, daughter Deborah Lehman and her husband Scott of Atlanta, GA, granddaughter Ramsey Lehman of Boston, MA and grandson David Lehman of Atlanta, GA. In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by brother, William Ramsey and sister, Lena Mae Neal.
Funeral Services:
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May, 25, 2023 at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 26, 2023 at the funeral home. Shan Sheridan will officiate. Burial will follow in Green Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to New Hope Church, 5306 W. CR 600 S., Frankfort, IN 46041. Please visit goodwinfuneralhome.com, where you may leave a condolence.