He graduated from Fresno High School in 1945 and immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After training in Quantico, Virginia, he was sent to Tangiers, Morocco, North Africa, for eight years, where he served with the American Legion.
While in Tangiers, he became acquainted with Adrian Conan Doyle, son of Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Mr. Conan Doyle wrote of Jean in his book, Heaven Has Claws, “In company with Jean Ramsden, a young Marine attached to the American Legation and incidentally a very promising archaeologist, we crossed Gibraltar from where we were to sail for Mombasa.”
It was during one such archaeological expedition that Jean fell down a well shaft severely injuring his right arm. He was sent stateside for his recovery and was later retired from active duty with the Marines.
Jean attended U.C. Berkeley and later graduated from Fresno State College with a degree in Business Administration in 1960. Following college, he and his dad built an A-frame cabin/home in Aptos, where he made his home the remainder of his life.
Jean especially enjoyed the friendships he made through his business Aptos Auto Parts in Aptos Village, through his membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and E Clampus Vitus. He loved to go camping, and was an avid fisherman.
Jean leaves a daughter Cheryl Stockird and companion John Aguirre of El Cerrito, a son Bruce Ramsden and his wife Janet, and granddaughters Shannon and Kylie Ramsden, all of Clovis. Military graveside honors were held on Friday, November 23, at Fresno Memorial Gardens.
A memorial gathering for Jean Meryl Ramsden will be held at Pacific Garden Chapel, Saturday December 15 at 2 p.m. for his many friends in the Santa Cruz area. Donations in his name are to be made to the Disabled Veterans of America (dav.org)