Ramona Zoe Percy, 85, rural Douglas County, passed away at her home on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. She was born on July 17, 1928, in Home, the daughter of James C. and Velma K. Barlow Riepen.
Ramona graduated from Topeka High School in 1946 and went on to attend Washburn University. While playing cornet in the band at Washburn, she met her husband, Eugene Mack Percy, who was drum major of the Ichabod Marching Band. They were married on May 9, 1947. They raised their five girls, instilling a love of music in each one and all play several instruments and sing.
Ramona was a homemaker while raising her family and then was employed by the Santa Fe Employee Benefits Association for 21 years before retiring. She raised her family as active members in their church. Ramona was a member of Shawnee Heights Christian Church and attended the Stull United Methodist Church, which was close to her home. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star for 25 years.
Ramona was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene, on Feb. 12, 2011. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Jerry J. Piepen and Garman J. Riepen; one step-great-granddaughter, Lilly Clanton; and one brother-in-law, Carl Percy.
She is survived by five daughters and their husbands; Ianthe and Pat Wozniak, Garden City, Mo., Rebecca and Michael Jones, Lawrence, Melissa and Stan Drumm, Spokane, Wash., Patricia and George Ferguson, Kansas City, Kan., and Renetta Jean and Brad Dawson, Hays. She and Eugene and seven grandchildren, Jami Wozniak Van Hercke, Andy Wozniak, Brian Wozniak, Meranda Bumgardner Martinez, Peggy Weitz Griffith, Annie Weitz Young, and Jack Kasselman, and step-grandchildren Kelli Drumm Carter, Erin Drumm Frelkin, Jessica Dawson and Matthew Dawson. She is survived by 17 great-grandchildren; one sister, Shirley J. Piepen Edmonds, Berryton; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law, Sylvia Riepen, Lyndon, Robert and Joan Percy, Manhattan, Oscar and Mary Jeanne Percy, Phoenix, Ariz., Glenn and Jeanne Ann Percy, Iola, and Claude and Yvonne Percy, Roeland Park; and many nieces and nephews and a large extended family.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Stull United Methodist Church. Burial will follow the next day at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Highland Cemetery in Iola. Memorial contributions may be given to the Washburn University Music Department in care of the Washburn University Foundation, 1729 SW MacVicar street, Topeka, Kansas 66604. Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel is assisting the family. To send the family a special message online visit www.penwellgabeltopeka.com.
Ramona Percy
