Viola Anne Ramp , 98, of Columbia City, died peacefully at 12:50 a.m. Monday, January 15, 2024, at Kingston Care Center in Fort Wayne.

Born on July 18, 1925, in Whitley County, Indiana, she was a daughter of the late Walter F. and Hilda (Russel) Binder. Growing up in Columbia City, she graduated from Columbia City High School in 1943.

On March 10, 1944, she married Richard Ira Ramp at Will Rogers Air Field in Oklahoma City, OK, where Richard was serving with the U.S. Army Air Force. After his military service, the couple made their home in Columbia City, raising a daughter. After retiring, the couple spent their winters in Florida for six years. Her husband of 67 years, Richard died on June 29, 2011.

During WWII, Viola worked at General Electric in Fort Wayne.  Taking work closer to home, she was employed by Columbia Products/Weatherhead, then the Woolen Mills, and for over 20 years with ION Capacitors, where she was a supervisor training new employees. She retired in 1987.

She belonged to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, was an 80-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Rebekah Lodge of Laud, and 75-year member and former Chaplin of the Tri Kappas.

Through the years, she has liked to knit, needlepoint, and cross stitch. In her senior years, she enjoyed playing BINGO, coloring books, keeping two electric pencil sharpeners to keep her colored pencils sharp, and assembling jigsaw puzzles. After mobility became an issue, she regained her feisty independence with a new power chair, challenging those that got in her way.

Surviving is a daughter, Paula (Doug) Sorrell of Fort Wayne; a grandson, Joseph J. (Emily) Heintzelman of Columbia City; a great-grandson, Kristofer Heintzelman; three great-great-granddaughters; three step-grandchildren; and several great and great-great step-grandchildren.

Additionally, she was preceded in death by a sister, Marilyn Miller, two brothers, Robert & Frederick Binder, and a grandson, Craig Heintzelman.

The funeral service is 3 p.m. Thursday, (January 18th) at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at South Park Cemetery, Columbia City. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until the service on Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials in Viola's honor are to the Whitley County Historical Society.