2023 -- H 6249

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LC002757

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE

RALPH HERBERT WOODMANSEE

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Chippendale, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kennedy,
Fenton-Fung, Ajello, Edwards, Tanzi, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of the

Honorable Ralph Herbert Wodmansee. He was born in Oneco, Connecticut, a son of the late

Helen Louise and Frank Irving Woodmansee; and

     WHEREAS, Ralph Woodmansee moved to Exeter with his family in 1943, attending a

one-room schoolhouse for eight grades, and North Kingstown High School where he played

football for the Skippers; and

     WHEREAS, As a young man, Mr. Woodmansee helped his father on his milk route both

before and after school. He also enjoyed being a member of the Future Farmers of America and

Exeter Grange #12, a membership he continued throughout his life for 75 years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee joined the Rhode Island Air Force National Guard in

1953, and served our Nation with honor and distinction for eight years, until receiving his

Honorable Discharge in 1961; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee was a hard-working and enterprising man who worked

tirelessly to provide for his family and loved ones in myriad positions. He was a vacuum cleaner

salesman, a shipping clerk, a pin setter, a driver and milkman, a mailman and credit union

collections officer, and had owned and operated his own school bus for 12 years for the Exeter

and Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee finally found his true professional calling when he took

an insurance sales job with the Frank Briggs Insurance Agency in Saunderstown. He quickly

discovered that he had an aptitude for the insurance profession, and in 1960, launched his own

insurance company, Woodmansee Insurance. He later co-founded the Chariho-Exeter Credit

Union in 1963, and served on its Board of Directors for many years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee was also the Regional Director for Volunteer Fireman’s

Insurance Services, and was on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Independent

Insurance Agents. He also owned and operated the West Greenwich Package Store for 30 years;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee had a distinguished public service career. He was the last

Rhode Island House of Representatives member elected solely from Exeter, serving in the Rhode

Island House in 1965-1966. A significant accomplishment was achieved by Mr. Woodmansee

when he helped to create a centralized Post Office for Exeter, giving them their own zip code; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee was also elected to the Exeter Town Council in 1967 and

served as its Town Council President from 1967 to 1970. Under his leadership, the Town

implemented zoning ordinances, dump permits, and building permits to ensure that people were

taxed properly; and

     WHEREAS, In his free time, Mr. Woodmansee enjoyed sports and enjoyed following the

Patriots and Red sox. He was also involved with youth football and cheerleading in Chariho, and

played in the South Kingstown Men’s Softball League for sixty consecutive seasons. He was a

Life Member of Exeter Volunteer Fire Department #2, and had helped to create the Hope

Valley/Wyoming Fire District in 1982; and

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Ralph Herbert Woodmansee leaves behind his beloved wife

of twenty years, Nancy Vaughn, and his cherished children, Ronald Woodmansee and his wife,

Lynn Thomson, Sandra Chartier, Valerie Richard and David Woodmansee and his wife, Robin.

He was also married to Joan Howard and Winifred Partelo. He leaves behind his brother, Lowell,

his sister-in-law, Ethel Woodmansee, seventeen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and

several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Nelson Woodmansee; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Ralph Herbert Woodmansee; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Nancy Vaughn, Ronald Wodmansee, Sandra

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Chartier and Valerie Richard.

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