1938
Evonne
2023
Evonne Eileen Old
May 20, 1938 — April 24, 2023
Evonne Eileen (Ramsey) Old, 84 years old, passed away on April 24, 2023 at Wilmington Hospice Center in Wilmington North Carolina. Evonne was born on May 20, 1938 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the eldest of five children, to Grover Jefferson Ramsey and Hattie Florence (Pierce) Ramsey.
Evonne is survived by her husband of 64 years, William Farnworth Old, two of her three children, Susan Elizabeth Old (Michael R Mowatt) and David William Old (Julie Wurster), four grandchildren Michael William Mowatt (Cori E Conner Mowatt), Robertson Ramsey Mowatt (Caroline A. Ware Mowatt), Jackson David Old, and Lucas William Old, and two great-grandchildren Marlow Elizabeth Mowatt and Mills Robertson Mowatt. She is preceded in death by her daughter Emily Catherine Old. Evonne is also survived by her siblings Arlene Lavelle, Joyce (Paul) Butler, Nancy (William) Deloney and Wayne (Susan) Ramsey, as well as her sister-in-law Caroline (Old) Fortuna and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Evonne grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin surrounded by family and friends. She maintained a close relationship with her childhood best friend, Jean MacLaughlin, until her death. She loved both the Pierce and Ramsey Farms and visited them regularly, along with her cousins. Alan Ramsey and Vonnie were born a few days apart and were very good friends their whole lives. She participated in band – saxophone – and debate. She was a very good student and loved to read.
During Evonne’s junior year in high school her family moved to Detroit. She finished high school there (Pershing HS) and attended Wayne State University (WSU) as an English major. At the beginning of her sophomore year a sorority sister introduced her to Bill. They got engaged at the Michigan/Minnesota football game (Little Brown Jug game) a couple of months later and were married that December 20, 1958. Bill was in his 3rd year in Medical School at WSU and they were provided married student housing. Their oldest daughter Susan (usually called Sue by family) was born that next fall - 1959. When Bill graduated from Medical School they moved to Dearborn for his internship and Emily was born the following spring (1961). With two little ones they moved to Oklahoma City for Bill’s residency. It was a happy, busy, and tiring time. In 1964, they moved to San Diego.
As Bill was starting his medical practice in Ophthalmology in Pacific Beach, Evonne was getting the girls settled into their new house and off to school. She was very involved at Kate Sessions Elementary School. She and a friend started the school’s music program and a library. David was born a few years later in 1969.
Evonne was busy volunteering around San Diego County with the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood, and the National Organization of Women. She also ran a mystery bookstore, volunteered at the library, and kept up with all the kids’ activities. In 1976 the family moved from Pacific Beach to La Jolla. This is where she wrote a novel with their good friend and next-door neighbor, Page Jones. It was also in La Jolla that she signed the family up for an American Field Service Student. Kenjiro Kosaki joined the family. The girls were off at college. David and Ken played violin together, then again later at Sue’s wedding in 1987.
Family time was very important to Evonne. Every Sunday she would plan a family event. Bicycling around Mission Bay, hiking in Torrey Pines, sailing at the Yacht Club. Every summer she would plan two weeklong vacations, where they would usually end up in Michigan visiting family. Sometimes they would camp across the country, sometimes they would stay with friends, as she had them everywhere. David even got to take a train across Canada with them. Kenjiro’s first summer was a trip across the country in an RV. Theirs were close quarters, but she planned well, and everyone had a great time.
Evonne was also a great party planner. She had events for most occasions. Christmas, Easter, Derby Day, 4th of July, and one time Ground Hogs Day. At Christmas there was the Mother-Daughter cookie party and the music party. At Easter, the easter egg hunt (before the pool was put it). At Derby Day a chalkboard keeping track the of bets. And at the 4th of July a cookout and a greased watermelon down the slide.
Life was full and happy. Evonne had many friends in San Diego, as well as from Eau Claire, Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Oklahoma. She made it a priority to keep in contact through letters and notes.
In 1983, Evonne, Bill, and David packed up everything and moved back to Michigan, this time to Kalamazoo. Emily was in school at UC Davis and Sue was in graduate school at U Michigan. David was just starting High School. She began meeting people, volunteering, and working on the house. She always belonged to at least one book club and one stitching club everywhere she lived. Evonne remodeled every house she lived in; Blackmore Court, La Jolla Mesa Drive, Bronson, Galesburg, and their last house in Kalamazoo. Once David left for college, Evonne and Bill moved to Galesburg to be closer to Bill’s work, then back to Kalamazoo a couple of decades later.
After Bill retired, Evonne and Bill traveled the world. They met many terrific people, many of whom they stayed in touch with. Their favorite travel group was Road Scholar, formerly Elder Hostel.
In 2016, Evonne and Bill moved to Maryland to be close to Sue. They continued their active lifestyle, spending winters in San Diego, which they had done for 20 years. In 2020 they got stuck in San Diego in isolation as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. David and Sue were able to get them back to Maryland in July 2020. The isolation was not good for people that are so social.
In 2022, Evonne and Bill moved to North Carolina to live close to Sue and Mike and their new house. This was a difficult move and they enjoyed their new surroundings. Evonne was able to see all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in 2022, truly a blessing.
The family would like to thank New Estuary Home Care for their dedication to Evonne. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Evonne’s memory to Doctors without Borders and Planned Parenthood.
A remembrance will be held on October 7, 2023 in Detroit, MI. Details to follow.
Aquamation services provided by Tranquility Cremation by Aquamation.
Evonne is survived by her husband of 64 years, William Farnworth Old, two of her three children, Susan Elizabeth Old (Michael R Mowatt) and David William Old (Julie Wurster), four grandchildren Michael William Mowatt (Cori E Conner Mowatt), Robertson Ramsey Mowatt (Caroline A. Ware Mowatt), Jackson David Old, and Lucas William Old, and two great-grandchildren Marlow Elizabeth Mowatt and Mills Robertson Mowatt. She is preceded in death by her daughter Emily Catherine Old. Evonne is also survived by her siblings Arlene Lavelle, Joyce (Paul) Butler, Nancy (William) Deloney and Wayne (Susan) Ramsey, as well as her sister-in-law Caroline (Old) Fortuna and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Evonne grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin surrounded by family and friends. She maintained a close relationship with her childhood best friend, Jean MacLaughlin, until her death. She loved both the Pierce and Ramsey Farms and visited them regularly, along with her cousins. Alan Ramsey and Vonnie were born a few days apart and were very good friends their whole lives. She participated in band – saxophone – and debate. She was a very good student and loved to read.
During Evonne’s junior year in high school her family moved to Detroit. She finished high school there (Pershing HS) and attended Wayne State University (WSU) as an English major. At the beginning of her sophomore year a sorority sister introduced her to Bill. They got engaged at the Michigan/Minnesota football game (Little Brown Jug game) a couple of months later and were married that December 20, 1958. Bill was in his 3rd year in Medical School at WSU and they were provided married student housing. Their oldest daughter Susan (usually called Sue by family) was born that next fall - 1959. When Bill graduated from Medical School they moved to Dearborn for his internship and Emily was born the following spring (1961). With two little ones they moved to Oklahoma City for Bill’s residency. It was a happy, busy, and tiring time. In 1964, they moved to San Diego.
As Bill was starting his medical practice in Ophthalmology in Pacific Beach, Evonne was getting the girls settled into their new house and off to school. She was very involved at Kate Sessions Elementary School. She and a friend started the school’s music program and a library. David was born a few years later in 1969.
Evonne was busy volunteering around San Diego County with the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood, and the National Organization of Women. She also ran a mystery bookstore, volunteered at the library, and kept up with all the kids’ activities. In 1976 the family moved from Pacific Beach to La Jolla. This is where she wrote a novel with their good friend and next-door neighbor, Page Jones. It was also in La Jolla that she signed the family up for an American Field Service Student. Kenjiro Kosaki joined the family. The girls were off at college. David and Ken played violin together, then again later at Sue’s wedding in 1987.
Family time was very important to Evonne. Every Sunday she would plan a family event. Bicycling around Mission Bay, hiking in Torrey Pines, sailing at the Yacht Club. Every summer she would plan two weeklong vacations, where they would usually end up in Michigan visiting family. Sometimes they would camp across the country, sometimes they would stay with friends, as she had them everywhere. David even got to take a train across Canada with them. Kenjiro’s first summer was a trip across the country in an RV. Theirs were close quarters, but she planned well, and everyone had a great time.
Evonne was also a great party planner. She had events for most occasions. Christmas, Easter, Derby Day, 4th of July, and one time Ground Hogs Day. At Christmas there was the Mother-Daughter cookie party and the music party. At Easter, the easter egg hunt (before the pool was put it). At Derby Day a chalkboard keeping track the of bets. And at the 4th of July a cookout and a greased watermelon down the slide.
Life was full and happy. Evonne had many friends in San Diego, as well as from Eau Claire, Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Oklahoma. She made it a priority to keep in contact through letters and notes.
In 1983, Evonne, Bill, and David packed up everything and moved back to Michigan, this time to Kalamazoo. Emily was in school at UC Davis and Sue was in graduate school at U Michigan. David was just starting High School. She began meeting people, volunteering, and working on the house. She always belonged to at least one book club and one stitching club everywhere she lived. Evonne remodeled every house she lived in; Blackmore Court, La Jolla Mesa Drive, Bronson, Galesburg, and their last house in Kalamazoo. Once David left for college, Evonne and Bill moved to Galesburg to be closer to Bill’s work, then back to Kalamazoo a couple of decades later.
After Bill retired, Evonne and Bill traveled the world. They met many terrific people, many of whom they stayed in touch with. Their favorite travel group was Road Scholar, formerly Elder Hostel.
In 2016, Evonne and Bill moved to Maryland to be close to Sue. They continued their active lifestyle, spending winters in San Diego, which they had done for 20 years. In 2020 they got stuck in San Diego in isolation as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. David and Sue were able to get them back to Maryland in July 2020. The isolation was not good for people that are so social.
In 2022, Evonne and Bill moved to North Carolina to live close to Sue and Mike and their new house. This was a difficult move and they enjoyed their new surroundings. Evonne was able to see all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in 2022, truly a blessing.
The family would like to thank New Estuary Home Care for their dedication to Evonne. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Evonne’s memory to Doctors without Borders and Planned Parenthood.
A remembrance will be held on October 7, 2023 in Detroit, MI. Details to follow.
Aquamation services provided by Tranquility Cremation by Aquamation.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Evonne Eileen Old, please visit our flower store.
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