John Guinn Ramage

Obituaries

Thursday, 14 May 2020 11:00

John Guinn Ramage, 94 of Tuscaloosa passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at his residence. A private burial was held on Friday, April 17, 2020 at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with services officiated by Rev. Sandy Felkins.
Born and raised in Chambers County, Alabama, the son of Elias Belton and Harriett Cook Ramage, he was educated in the Five Points and Lafayette school systems, graduating from Lafayette High School in 1943. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Corp as a flight engineer on the B-29 Superfortrace. After the war, Ramage attended API, now Auburn University, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in forest management from the School of Forestry.
In 1953, Ramage joined the newly formed Hiwassee Land Company, the land management division of England’s Bowater Paper Company. This was the company’s entrance into the United States paper industry. He held management positions with the Hiwassee in Calhoun, Georgia, Scottsboro, Alabama and Calhoun, Tennessee until his retirement in 1990. He was a member of the Society of American Foresters, Alabama Forestry Association and sat on the Alabama Board of Registration for Foresters. Ramage was also extremely involved in many civic and church activities, serving in numerous leadership positions in both Scottsboro, Alabama and Athens, Tennessee. Ramage and his wife, Rita enjoyed retirement in Athens until they moved to Tuscaloosa in 2016.
He leaves his wife of 63 years, Rita Russell Ramage; son, Russ Ramage; daughter, Pam Ramage (Farley) Poellnitz; grandson, Alston Poellnitz; granddaughter, Harriett Poellnitz; sister, Jane Ramage Sligh.
Memorial donations can be made to Nourish One Child at First United Methodist Church in Scottsboro or Keith Memorial United Methodist Church in Athens, Tennessee. Gifts can also be made to Hospice of West Alabama or First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa.