Ramona M. Cress

Ramona Mae Cress, 88, died early Thursday, May 28, 2026 at Bucyrus Community Hospital.

She was born on November 4, 1937 to the late Harold K. and Elva A. (Fike) Sipe. Ramona met Jack Cress on a double date after he returned from his Army service. After a brief courtship, they were married September 8, 1956, raised their family in Bucyrus, and shared 45 years of marriage when he preceded her in death on February 12, 2002.

Ramona will be remembered for her independence and deep devotion to her Lord and Savior and love for her family. Each spring, she looked forward to warm weather so she could enjoy sitting on her front porch, completing Word Search puzzles, tending to her beautiful flowers, and enjoying nature. She loved most creatures with the exception of pesky groundhogs. She also liked shopping and decorating her home.

Her deep and abiding faith was shared as a charter member of First Alliance Church in Bucyrus where she served as a deaconess. Southern gospel and Gaither Homecoming music fed her soul along with the ministry of her church and Dr. David Jeremiah. Ramona loved eating fast food and sipping on a cold McDonald’s Coke. She was a generous soul who would listen and help her family with anything she could, especially as their “prayer warrior.”

Ramona is survived by children, Diane Smith, Tim Cress, Deb (Mike) Lester, and Leanne (Mark) Collins; grandchildren, Kara (Shawn) Houchin, Cody Lester, Connor Lester, Madeline Collins and Mara (Nick) Barnes; great grandchildren, Trey Allonas, Damien Workman, Kaleb Workman, Evelyn Barnes, Merrick Barnes; great-great grandchildren, Olivia Allonas, Knox Workman, and soon expected twins, Hadley and Everly Workman; sister, Sandy Rinehart; along with nieces, nephews, and extended family.

In addition to her parents and husband Jack, Ramona was preceded in death by son-in-law, Cliff Smith and siblings, Wayne Quinton, Dick Barcus, Edward Sipe, Virginia Sipe, and Joan Dewalt.

All services will be held on Tuesday, June 2 at First Alliance Church in Bucyrus. Family will receive friends for an hour from 12-12:55 pm and the funeral will begin at 1:00 pm with Pastor Rick Maddox officiating. Burial will follow in Crawford County Memory Gardens.

Memorial contributions are encouraged to be made payable to Bucyrus Alliance Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and given at the services or Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus. Memories and photos can be shared on the guestbook of Ramona’s tribute page at www.wisefuneral.com.