2023 -- H 6249
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LC002757
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
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 WOODMA NSEE
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 1
Honorable Ralph Herbert Wodmansee. He was born in Oneco, Connecticut, a son of the late 2
Helen Louise and Frank Irving Woodmansee; and 3
WHEREAS, Ralph Woodmansee moved to Exeter with his family in 1943, attending a 4
one-room schoolhouse for eight grades, and North Kingstown High School where he played 5
football for the Skippers; and 6
WHEREAS, As a young man, Mr. Woodmansee helped his father on his milk route both 7
before and after school. He also enjoyed being a member of the Future Farmers of America and 8
Exeter Grange #12, a membership he continued throughout his life for 75 years; and 9
WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee joined the Rhode Island Air Force National Guard in 10
1953, and served our Nation with honor and distinction for eight years, until receiving his 11
Honorable Discharge in 1961; and 12
WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee was a hard-working and enterprising man who worked 13
tirelessly to provide for his family and loved ones in myriad positions. He was a vacuum cleaner 14
salesman, a shipping clerk, a pin setter, a driver and milkman, a mailman and credit union 15
collections officer, and had owned and operated his own school bus for 12 years for the Exeter 16
and Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District; and 17
WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee finally found his true professional calling when he took 18
an insurance sales job with the Frank Briggs Insurance Agency in Saunderstown. He quickly 19
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discovered that he had an aptitude for the insurance profession, and in 1960, launched his own 1
insurance company, Woodmansee Insurance. He later co-founded the Chariho-Exeter Credit 2
Union in 1963, and served on its Board of Directors for many years; and 3
WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee was also the Regional Director for Volunteer Fireman’s 4
Insurance Services, and was on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Independent 5
Insurance Agents. He also owned and operated the West Greenwich Package Store for 30 years; 6
and 7
WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee had a distinguished public service career. He was the last 8
Rhode Island House of Representatives member elected solely from Exeter, serving in the Rhode 9
Island House in 1965-1966. A significant accomplishment was achieved by Mr. Woodmansee 10
when he helped to create a centralized Post Office for Exeter, giving them their own zip code; and 11
WHEREAS, Mr. Woodmansee was also elected to the Exeter Town Council in 1967 and 12
served as its Town Council President from 1967 to 1970. Under his leadership, the Town 13
implemented zoning ordinances, dump permits, and building permits to ensure that people were 14
taxed properly; and 15
WHEREAS, In his free time, Mr. Woodmansee enjoyed sports and enjoyed following the 16
Patriots and Red sox. He was also involved with youth football and cheerleading in Chariho, and 17
played in the South Kingstown Men’s Softball League for sixty consecutive seasons. He was a 18
Life Member of Exeter Volunteer Fire Department #2, and had helped to create the Hope 19
Valley/Wyoming Fire District in 1982; and 20
WHEREAS, The Honorable Ralph Herbert Woodmansee leaves behind his beloved wife 21
of twenty years, Nancy Vaughn, and his cherished children, Ronald Woodmansee and his wife, 22
Lynn Thomson, Sandra Chartier, Valerie Richard and David Woodmansee and his wife, Robin. 23
He was also married to Joan Howard and Winifred Partelo. He leaves behind his brother, Lowell, 24
his sister-in-law, Ethel Woodmansee, seventeen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and 25
several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Nelson Woodmansee; now, 26
therefore be it 27
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 28
expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Ralph Herbert Woodmansee; and be it further 29
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 30
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Nancy Vaughn, Ronald Wodmansee, Sandra31
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Chartier and Valerie Richard. 1
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LC002757
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