Ramona Gasper

Ramona Kenneday deGraffenried Gasper, 78, a docent at Washington National Cathedral for more than 15 years, died of cancer Nov. 30 at Montgomery Hospice Casey House.

Mrs. Gasper loved introducing visitors, especially children, to the National Cathedral, and she regaled her family with little-known facts about the building. She loved to talk with people from all walks of life during her regular Wednesday tours, a family member said, and appreciated the interdenominational nature of the church. Illness forced her to stop giving   the tours about two years ago.

A native Washingtonian, Mrs. Gasper graduated from Eastern High School, where she was a cheerleader and worked part time at the FBI's fingerprinting facility.

After graduation in 1944, she worked as a secretary for the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Co., where she was chosen to test an IBM electronic typewriter. She quit the insurance company in 1958 to have children.

Saturday, December 4, 2004

While taking her children to events and playgrounds around Camp Springs, she realized the community had no recreational facilities. She started a recreation council, helped design Summerhill Park and organized the effort that resulted in the community center. She also worked on efforts to open Allentown Fitness Splash Park in Fort Washington, Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington, and Temple Hills Community Center.

She saw all these great parks in other neighborhoods and that gave her the drive, daughter Deborah Gasper said. She amazed herself with what she could get done.

She was a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Potomac. Interested in her family history, she served as president of the deGraffenried Association. Her father owned seven grocery stores, called White Front Markets, on Capitol Hill when she was young.

Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Ray Gasper of Potomac; four children, Deborah Gasper of Rosslyn, Nancy Walsh of Potomac, Edward Gasper of Rockville and Pamela Boland of Potomac; two sisters, Elizabeth Webb of Front Royal and Upper Marlboro and Patricia Briel of New Carrollton; and six grandchildren.