I, Ramona Joy Holmes was born to Walden and Carrie Waddle on April 15, 1943, in Watertown,SD. It was during the Easter Lent season, thus the middle name, Joy. I’m eldest of four sisters.
Two sisters were also born in Watertown. The family left South Dakota and moved to Albany,Oregon in 1947, where the youngest sister was born.
My passion for teaching began when I entered elementary school, I would rush home, gather my younger sisters and the neighborhood children and “play school” by repeating what I learned that day. I continued my education at Linfield College with a BA in Math/Education and a minor in Physical Education.
My first teaching job was at Dayton High School in Oregon. I discovered teaching led me to other places, two years at a girl’s high school in Japan and two years at a DOD school in the Philippines, where the students were children of military service men and women. Teaching was a life long love.
Truly, teaching was my passion, second only to faith, family and friends. I continued to teach math in Stockton, California at three different high schools. In 1991-1992 on a two-year sabbatical, I entered Oregon State University to pursue a Master’s degree.
It was there I met a most important and lasting friend. I didn’t realize that in addition to a MS degree I would also get a MRS. I met Frank Holmes, who was attending OSU working on a doctorate degree. At the age of 49, we married in the Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church in Stockton, California on November 27, 1992.
For the first two years our marriage was long distance. I was in Stockton fulfilling my obligation to teach two years and Frank was in Corvallis. I retired and moved to Corvallis where I worked full time teaching math at OSU and at a local middle school. During this time, I became an Alaskan resident as Frank and I divided our time between Alaska and Oregon.
As Ramona wrote, “So many miles traveled, so many lessons learned, so much to love and appreciate. Truly, this world is a creation to behold. There is much beauty and diversity, people every color: “Red and Yellow, Black and White, all are precious in his sight.” Indeed, we are all creations of God, deserving of love and respect. Our hands and hearts, and in his hands and his heart.”
Ramona was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2010. For fifteen years she fought a battle against it progressing. She beat the usual five-year death average.
At the end, Ramona said: “I can’t do it anymore.”
I am sure as a Japanese former student said, “I hope Ramona has found peace. Surrounded by love.” She has found peace and was surrounded by love.
Ramona is survived by her husband Frank, sisters Sylvia, Donna and Diane, step daughters Stephanie and Danielle, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A quote Ramona chose to live her life by: “I shall pass through this but once. If, therefore there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it. For I shall not pass this way again.”