Leon  Preece Ramshaw  QMSN 1954-1958

Returm

Leon Ramshaw, a Quartermaster/Signalman  aboard the USS Spangler DE-696, passed away on December 22, 2022 in Lonview, Washington, with his loving wife Eydie by his side..  In 2013 he and Eydie attended the Spangler Reunion in Henderson, NV.  This was his first time to attend a reunion  and his first  time  to visit with fellow quartermaster and friend, Wayne Dorough.  The two had lots of wonderful memories to share.

Leon stepped aboard the Spangler in April 1954 fresh from bootcamp and assigned to the Gunnery Division.  He later was reassigned to  Operations Divison, serving in the  Quartermaster Group until his discharge as a QMSN in 1958.   He was with his shipmates during the Spangler's WESPAC cruise in 1957, leaving San Diego, CA, on January 3, and arriving back stateside on July, 6, 1957.  He was initiated in the Domain of The Golden Dragon when  crossing the equator in early January, 1957, and  took part in 5-day visit to Auckland, New Zealand.  This was followed up with a the 6-week Pacific Island Surveillance of the Easter Caroline and Mariana Islands. Other port visits included three stopovers in Yokosuka, Japan;  along with visits to Beppu, Kobe, and Sasebo, Japan.  His cruise in 1957 also included visits to Manilla in the Phillipines; Singapore; Hong Kong, China; Keoshung, Formosa (Tiawan); along with a visit to Chie Hea, South Korea.  

He was a fun guy to be with, made friends easily and was well liked by his shipmates.  When Leon took on a task you knew it would be done right and with efficiency. A noticeable trait was his practice of always having a pen case in his shirt pocket full of pencils and pens ready for the task, while his shipmates often needed to search around for theirs.

On leaving the service Eugene got a job with AT&T as a communication specialist.  He attended college and received an associates degree in Mechanics.  While in the service, he married Violet Marie Holsten in June 1958. They had five children, Robert Denis (deceased),  Leann, Scott, Diana, and  Dennis. Violet passed away from cancer in 1981.  

About a year later, Leon married Eydie Mayclin, a long time friend of his deceased wife's. Leon's obituary, published in Legacy.com, notes he was survived by his wife Eydie and four children: Leann, Scott (Theresa) Diana, and  Dennis (Kim); plus two stepchildren: Robert (Marilyn) Mayclin and Arthur (Sidney) Mayclin. In addition he had nine Grandchildren and twenty-nine Great Grandchildren.

His obituary also notes: Leon was an "experienced mechanic by trade, he was also a parts manager, carpenter, and security guard .  It adds that "Leon's hobbies included Bowling, Golf, Pool, Fishing, Boating, Dancing, and Cooking...One of his greatest pleasures was hosting family gatherings and barbecues."

Photos from Leon's Navy years are displayed below:."