The key to a long life - a zest for living

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – I first met Bill Ramage in February 1993 when I transferred from Apeco Pinetown to the Cape Town branch. “WR” as we all knew him (we were all called by our initials at Apeco) was the branch manager and had to have a brain tumour removed from the back of his head at the base of his neck on the right-hand side. It was a rather large one and the fact that he lived for another 31 years and passed at 93 is testament of the kind of man WR was. A fighter with a larger-than-life spirit. He was always the life of the party, even at the home where he spent his last few years. I heard that he always had the ladies dancing the night away at functions there.

Bill loved his tennis and was pretty good at it. He spent a lot of time on the tennis courts of Kelvin Grove where he and his beautiful wife Mirelle would spend hours. Once the bones started creaking too much, he took up bowls, and even then, he was very good. He was a member of the Lions Club International in Cape Town and gave up a lot of his time to serve his community and those in need.

As I only met him when he was 62, I don’t know too much of his career history before he joined Apeco. I know that he was working for King Tanning as their salesperson in Johannesburg before joining Apeco Johannesburg. In 1976 he moved to Pietermaritzburg to run the Apeco branch there and 4 years later, in 1980, he transferred to Apeco Cape Town where he headed the branch there. He ran a very successful branch with a leather and synthetic division having separate salespeople as the footwear industry warranted it in those days.

Unfortunately, Bill developed the tumour over time and retired from the company and the industry in 1993. His operation was successful, and he recovered very well. The right-hand side of his face sagged a little but that never crushed his spirit for life. Over the years his face improved, and he was as good looking as ever!

Bill could not just sit at home and do nothing, so he decided that he would turn his hobby of making kitchen and bedroom cupboards into his profession. He did this very well and created beautiful kitchens for many homes over the years. He was still making cupboards a few months before his passing at 93!

He passed away in July 2024 after complications with his heart. He is survived by his daughter Sue and two sons, Doug and Gary who I know miss him dearly. His passing was very sudden.

His knowledge of the Cape Town market that he passed down to me was incredible and I will be forever grateful. His zest for life will be something we will always remember.