Dawn Ramsey
Saturday
9
March

Dawn's Visitation

11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Adams Green Funeral Home
721 Elden Street
Herndon, Virginia, United States
Saturday
9
March

Dawn's Funeral Service

12:00 pm
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Adams Green Funeral Home
721 Elden Street
Herndon, Virginia, United States

Obituary of Dawn Hanna Ramsey

Dawn Hanna Ramsey passed away on February 28, 2019 in Arlington, Virginia. She is at peace after a long fight with early onset Alzheimer's. 

Dawn was born on April 21, 1959 in Arlington, VA to Eugene and Roberta Hanna. She was the second of four children and the eldest daughter. She was born, raised and lived most of her life in the Northern Virginia area. She graduated from Robert. E. Lee High School in Springfield, where no one will be surprised to learn that she won the "Best Dressed" superlative her senior year. Even her collegiate career continued locally, attending Marymount College and earning an Associate's Degree, and eventually (after briefly attending the University of Central Florida) earning a Bachelor's and then a Master's degree from George Mason University.

Dawn worked diligently her entire life, a quality most people readily saw in her and appreciated immensely. She believed in perseverance and determination and often succeeded at what she put her mind to. She began her 18 year career with Loudoun County Public Schools as a school bus driver and continued to advance through teaching assistant, Special Education teacher, and, ultimately, school guidance counselor. She was praised throughout this for her compassion, intuitive ability to connect with her students, and for her unique way of often turning a challenging situation into something wonderful for all involved. 

In her youth she developed a love of horses that she carried with her throughout her entire life. She volunteered at stables, took riding lessons, and became an accomplished equestrian in her teens, even once coming in second to an Olympic rider. As long as she was in the vicinity of a horse, she was happy.  Along with that love came a love of the outdoors – whether near her home, in the mountains, or at a beach. She was athletic as well and enjoyed long walks and runs and in her younger years was very good at tennis, racket ball, and softball.

But for all her love of the outdoors, Dawn also had a gifted eye for interior design; even taking college classes as early as high school. She was quick to lend this talent to others, many a friend can say that Dawn helped them pick a paint color or fabric. Dawn's personal style was evident in most things and this is not simply limited to the material. She will be remembered for her quick wit, warmth, lively spirit, and generous loving heart. There are many who will be able to say that they remember a time when Dawn showed them her great capacity for love, whether it was through a phone call, greeting card, a casserole, or a hug.

Among Dawn’s proudest accomplishments though were her daughters, Kathryn (Katy) and Erin. They were the center of her universe and she often marveled at how smart, interesting, talented, and wickedly funny they are.

Dawn also is survived by her mother, Roberta Hanna and by her siblings, Brady Hanna, Karen Hanna and Linda Hanna (Robert Hammann), as well as her aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is predeceased by her father. She leaves behind countless friends and loved ones that she met along the way.

In Dawn’s memory, the family requests that donations be made to the Dawn Ramsey Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit Brook Hill Farm and their United Neigh program. Money raised in Dawn's name will go to helping underprivileged or at-risk youth experience the same healing power of horses she so believed in, Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses, Inc

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