Cordy Aaron Ramer, Jr., 95, of Fordyce passed away on October 31, 2015 in Rison, Arkansas, surrounded by his immediate family. Variously referred to as Cordy and as C.A., he was born in Conway County, March 1, 1920, to Cordy Aaron Ramer, Sr. and Susan Frances Tiner Ramer. On October 7, 1943, Cordy Jr. married Evelyn McGarity of Lonoke, Arkansas, and they had just celebrated their 72nd anniversary at the time of his death.
C.A. graduated from High School in England, Arkansas in 1937, and he attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville and Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Force, and during World War II he served with the 350th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, based at Thorpe Abbotts RAF (Station 139) in Britain. Cordy was a 1st Lieutenant and Bombardier on Flying Fortresses, and he flew the first of twenty-eight credited combat missions out of Thorpe Abbotts on June 19, 1944.
On July 29, 1944, he was aboard a B-17G named "Hard Luck II" (tail #42-31903) returning from a mission to bomb the Leuna synthetic oil refinery at Merseburg, Germany, when the plane was shot down by German fighter planes and crashed 500 yards from the village of Wülfingerode 25 km west of Nordhausen, Germany. According to official reports, only nine crewmen of the usual ten were aboard the plane that day, and four of the nine lost their lives in the crash. The other five, to include Cordy, bailed out, and one of these died on the way down either from injuries or lack of oxygen (they had been flying at 26,000 feet). The remaining four were captured by the Germans, and they spent nine months in a prison camp near Frankfurt, Germany before being released in April of 1945.
Returning to Arkansas, Cordy taught school for six years before moving to Fayetteville, where he entered the University of Arkansas. In 1953 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in agriculture, and a year later he earned a Master's degree in agricultural education. He was employed by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, where in 1955 he was appointed Extension Service Staff Chairman for Dallas County. He retired in 1983, and in 1995 he was awarded Professor Emeritus status from the University of Arkansas.
He was very involved in his community, serving as a member of the Farm Bureau for more than 50 years and on the Dallas County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for over 25 years. He assisted the Dallas County Fair Association for more than 50 years, and a building on the fairgrounds was named in his honor (C.A. Ramer Exhibit Hall). In 2003, he was selected as the Arkansas Fair Managers Association Hall of Fame Award Winner. He was a long time member of the Fordyce Lion's Club, and in 1996 he was presented the community service award by the Fordyce Chamber of Commerce. C.A and Evelyn have been faithful members of the First Baptist Church in Fordyce, where they have been active with the "Keenagers" group.
C.A. was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Abby Kemp and Bobbie Thomas, and his daughter-in-law JoAnn Ramer. Survivors include his wife Evelyn, his sons Cordy A. Ramer III of Birmingham, Alabama, John Ramer and wife Jan of Fordyce, and David Ramer and wife Tena of Heber Springs, as well as twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.
Services at First Baptist Church in Fordyce, Rev. Rusty Ross officiating. Burial at Plumerville Cemetery in Plumerville, Arkansas, Rev. Bill Brown officiating.
Sources: Benton Funeral Home, http://www.bentonfuneralhome.net/; Website of the 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) Foundation, https://100thbg.com/; USAAF Missing Air Crew Report 7811, https://www.fold3.com/; and personal knowledge of the contributor.
C.A. graduated from High School in England, Arkansas in 1937, and he attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville and Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Force, and during World War II he served with the 350th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, based at Thorpe Abbotts RAF (Station 139) in Britain. Cordy was a 1st Lieutenant and Bombardier on Flying Fortresses, and he flew the first of twenty-eight credited combat missions out of Thorpe Abbotts on June 19, 1944.
On July 29, 1944, he was aboard a B-17G named "Hard Luck II" (tail #42-31903) returning from a mission to bomb the Leuna synthetic oil refinery at Merseburg, Germany, when the plane was shot down by German fighter planes and crashed 500 yards from the village of Wülfingerode 25 km west of Nordhausen, Germany. According to official reports, only nine crewmen of the usual ten were aboard the plane that day, and four of the nine lost their lives in the crash. The other five, to include Cordy, bailed out, and one of these died on the way down either from injuries or lack of oxygen (they had been flying at 26,000 feet). The remaining four were captured by the Germans, and they spent nine months in a prison camp near Frankfurt, Germany before being released in April of 1945.
Returning to Arkansas, Cordy taught school for six years before moving to Fayetteville, where he entered the University of Arkansas. In 1953 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in agriculture, and a year later he earned a Master's degree in agricultural education. He was employed by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, where in 1955 he was appointed Extension Service Staff Chairman for Dallas County. He retired in 1983, and in 1995 he was awarded Professor Emeritus status from the University of Arkansas.
He was very involved in his community, serving as a member of the Farm Bureau for more than 50 years and on the Dallas County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for over 25 years. He assisted the Dallas County Fair Association for more than 50 years, and a building on the fairgrounds was named in his honor (C.A. Ramer Exhibit Hall). In 2003, he was selected as the Arkansas Fair Managers Association Hall of Fame Award Winner. He was a long time member of the Fordyce Lion's Club, and in 1996 he was presented the community service award by the Fordyce Chamber of Commerce. C.A and Evelyn have been faithful members of the First Baptist Church in Fordyce, where they have been active with the "Keenagers" group.
C.A. was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Abby Kemp and Bobbie Thomas, and his daughter-in-law JoAnn Ramer. Survivors include his wife Evelyn, his sons Cordy A. Ramer III of Birmingham, Alabama, John Ramer and wife Jan of Fordyce, and David Ramer and wife Tena of Heber Springs, as well as twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.
Services at First Baptist Church in Fordyce, Rev. Rusty Ross officiating. Burial at Plumerville Cemetery in Plumerville, Arkansas, Rev. Bill Brown officiating.
Sources: Benton Funeral Home, http://www.bentonfuneralhome.net/; Website of the 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) Foundation, https://100thbg.com/; USAAF Missing Air Crew Report 7811, https://www.fold3.com/; and personal knowledge of the contributor.
Cordy Aaron Ramer, Jr., 95, of Fordyce passed away on October 31, 2015 in Rison, Arkansas, surrounded by his immediate family. Variously referred to as Cordy and as C.A., he was born in Conway County, March 1, 1920, to Cordy Aaron Ramer, Sr. and Susan Frances Tiner Ramer. On October 7, 1943, Cordy Jr. married Evelyn McGarity of Lonoke, Arkansas, and they had just celebrated their 72nd anniversary at the time of his death.
C.A. graduated from High School in England, Arkansas in 1937, and he attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville and Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Force, and during World War II he served with the 350th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, based at Thorpe Abbotts RAF (Station 139) in Britain. Cordy was a 1st Lieutenant and Bombardier on Flying Fortresses, and he flew the first of twenty-eight credited combat missions out of Thorpe Abbotts on June 19, 1944.
On July 29, 1944, he was aboard a B-17G named "Hard Luck II" (tail #42-31903) returning from a mission to bomb the Leuna synthetic oil refinery at Merseburg, Germany, when the plane was shot down by German fighter planes and crashed 500 yards from the village of Wülfingerode 25 km west of Nordhausen, Germany. According to official reports, only nine crewmen of the usual ten were aboard the plane that day, and four of the nine lost their lives in the crash. The other five, to include Cordy, bailed out, and one of these died on the way down either from injuries or lack of oxygen (they had been flying at 26,000 feet). The remaining four were captured by the Germans, and they spent nine months in a prison camp near Frankfurt, Germany before being released in April of 1945.
Returning to Arkansas, Cordy taught school for six years before moving to Fayetteville, where he entered the University of Arkansas. In 1953 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in agriculture, and a year later he earned a Master's degree in agricultural education. He was employed by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, where in 1955 he was appointed Extension Service Staff Chairman for Dallas County. He retired in 1983, and in 1995 he was awarded Professor Emeritus status from the University of Arkansas.
He was very involved in his community, serving as a member of the Farm Bureau for more than 50 years and on the Dallas County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for over 25 years. He assisted the Dallas County Fair Association for more than 50 years, and a building on the fairgrounds was named in his honor (C.A. Ramer Exhibit Hall). In 2003, he was selected as the Arkansas Fair Managers Association Hall of Fame Award Winner. He was a long time member of the Fordyce Lion's Club, and in 1996 he was presented the community service award by the Fordyce Chamber of Commerce. C.A and Evelyn have been faithful members of the First Baptist Church in Fordyce, where they have been active with the "Keenagers" group.
C.A. was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Abby Kemp and Bobbie Thomas, and his daughter-in-law JoAnn Ramer. Survivors include his wife Evelyn, his sons Cordy A. Ramer III of Birmingham, Alabama, John Ramer and wife Jan of Fordyce, and David Ramer and wife Tena of Heber Springs, as well as twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.
Services at First Baptist Church in Fordyce, Rev. Rusty Ross officiating. Burial at Plumerville Cemetery in Plumerville, Arkansas, Rev. Bill Brown officiating.
Sources: Benton Funeral Home, http://www.bentonfuneralhome.net/; Website of the 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) Foundation, https://100thbg.com/; USAAF Missing Air Crew Report 7811, https://www.fold3.com/; and personal knowledge of the contributor.
C.A. graduated from High School in England, Arkansas in 1937, and he attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville and Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Force, and during World War II he served with the 350th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, based at Thorpe Abbotts RAF (Station 139) in Britain. Cordy was a 1st Lieutenant and Bombardier on Flying Fortresses, and he flew the first of twenty-eight credited combat missions out of Thorpe Abbotts on June 19, 1944.
On July 29, 1944, he was aboard a B-17G named "Hard Luck II" (tail #42-31903) returning from a mission to bomb the Leuna synthetic oil refinery at Merseburg, Germany, when the plane was shot down by German fighter planes and crashed 500 yards from the village of Wülfingerode 25 km west of Nordhausen, Germany. According to official reports, only nine crewmen of the usual ten were aboard the plane that day, and four of the nine lost their lives in the crash. The other five, to include Cordy, bailed out, and one of these died on the way down either from injuries or lack of oxygen (they had been flying at 26,000 feet). The remaining four were captured by the Germans, and they spent nine months in a prison camp near Frankfurt, Germany before being released in April of 1945.
Returning to Arkansas, Cordy taught school for six years before moving to Fayetteville, where he entered the University of Arkansas. In 1953 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in agriculture, and a year later he earned a Master's degree in agricultural education. He was employed by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, where in 1955 he was appointed Extension Service Staff Chairman for Dallas County. He retired in 1983, and in 1995 he was awarded Professor Emeritus status from the University of Arkansas.
He was very involved in his community, serving as a member of the Farm Bureau for more than 50 years and on the Dallas County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for over 25 years. He assisted the Dallas County Fair Association for more than 50 years, and a building on the fairgrounds was named in his honor (C.A. Ramer Exhibit Hall). In 2003, he was selected as the Arkansas Fair Managers Association Hall of Fame Award Winner. He was a long time member of the Fordyce Lion's Club, and in 1996 he was presented the community service award by the Fordyce Chamber of Commerce. C.A and Evelyn have been faithful members of the First Baptist Church in Fordyce, where they have been active with the "Keenagers" group.
C.A. was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Abby Kemp and Bobbie Thomas, and his daughter-in-law JoAnn Ramer. Survivors include his wife Evelyn, his sons Cordy A. Ramer III of Birmingham, Alabama, John Ramer and wife Jan of Fordyce, and David Ramer and wife Tena of Heber Springs, as well as twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.
Services at First Baptist Church in Fordyce, Rev. Rusty Ross officiating. Burial at Plumerville Cemetery in Plumerville, Arkansas, Rev. Bill Brown officiating.
Sources: Benton Funeral Home, http://www.bentonfuneralhome.net/; Website of the 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) Foundation, https://100thbg.com/; USAAF Missing Air Crew Report 7811, https://www.fold3.com/; and personal knowledge of the contributor.
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