Linda J. Base

Linda June (Ramey) Base, 80, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, peacefully passed away on the morning of Friday, September 13, 2024. During her brief stay at St. Anne’s Hospital in Toledo, OH, Linda was surrounded by the ones she loved and nurtured most: her daughters, grandchildren and son-in-laws. Her devotion to family was immeasurable; and the warmth of her light will forever live in the hearts and minds of those she held nearest and dearest.

Linda was born in Coeburn, Virginia on January 8. 1944. Linda was one of seven children born to Kinney E. Ramey, a coal miner, and Anna Mae (Hale) Ramey, a fastidious homemaker. Linda’s humble beginnings played an integral part in shaping her resilient, independent and determined spirit. She delighted in sharing such fond childhood memories as playing in the mountains with animated friends, fetching buckets of drinking water from a nearby freshwater spring, eating her mother’s delicious bean soup and cornbread, and learning the importance of voting from her parents during a time when poll taxes posed a significant challenge for poor families to exercise their right to vote.

Later in her childhood, her father took a job with the Sandusky Foundry and Machine; and she attended grade school and high school in the Port Clinton School District. She often said that the move “up north” was challenging, as “the food just wasn’t as good as southern cooking” and the weather was much colder. Nonetheless, her scholastic aptitude in math, English and business, coupled with her resolute nature, enabled her years later to forge a successful career path and fulfilling life.

In the 1970s, Linda began her rewarding career with the Ace Hardware Corporation in Perrysburg, OH . While she initially worked in the Accounts Payable Department, she was promoted to the position of Human Resources Manager when her talents were noticed while serving on the union negotiating team during the workers’ strike. After retiring from Ace Hardware in Perrysburg, Linda was asked to return to the Company in Princeton, IL to serve as Office Manager at its newest and largest distribution center. Never one to turn down a challenge, Linda welcomed the opportunity to help the Center formulate and execute an efficient, thorough system of operation for providing high-quality service for its numerous store sites. After several years at Ace in Princeton, a time in which she cherished the many new close friendships she formed, Linda retired once again in 2001 and returned to Perrysburg to be with family.

On February 16, 1963, Linda married Virgil Arthur Base of Martin, OH. They are survived by their two daughters: Jacqueline (Mark) Patterson of Perrysburg, OH and Jennifer (Corey) Waldron of Genoa, OH. Linda’s most precious gifts in life were her four grandchildren: Stephanie Smithers of Chicago, IL, Nathan Patterson (Kristina) of Columbus, OH, Lauren Patterson of Perrysburg, OH Hannah (Grant) Adams of Genoa, OH, and great grandson, Luke Oliver Adams.

After 38 years of marriage Linda and Virgil separated and divorced when she returned to Perrysburg in 2001. It was then that Linda began her journey of healing and finding inner peace. Linda’s daughters and their families find tremendous comfort in knowing that Linda’s “healing journey” was a success; and her years following the divorce were filled with an abundance of love, laughter and family gatherings in which her amazing cooking and “special recipe” margaritas were the highlight!

Aside from cooking, Linda enjoyed taking day trips and vacations with her daughters, staying in close contact with her grandchildren and friends, listening to country music, testing her intellect while watching “Jeopardy” or “Wheel of Fortune,” dining out at “good” restaurants, staying current on political issues and supporting Democratic candidates. She also loved to keep her mind sharp by watching and reading local and national news, chiming in on family text chats, playing bingo and challenging card games with friends and family, scratching a winning lottery ticket or finding a lucky slot machine.

Aside from her parents, Linda was preceded in death by her siblings: Carol Sue Hall, Lavada (“Toots”) Ann Hall, Kinney (“Butch”) W.. Ramey, James (“Poss”) Ramey. Her sisters, Jane Schmitt and Connie Harris, currently reside in Wilmington, Ohio.

A beautiful private funeral service was held on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at Witzler-Shank Walker Funeral Home in Perrysburg, OH. A graveside service accompanied by a release of four doves, one for each of her grandchildren, followed at Fort Meigs Cemetery in Perrysburg, OH.

The family suggests that those wishing to honor Linda’s memory can do so by donating to The Danbury Senior Center in Marblehead, OH, as Linda had many fond memories of the senior activities its organizers helped make possible.