[1] Born in Scarborough, Ontario, to Scottish immigrant parents, Withers spent 35 years in uniform, serving in the Korean War and in command and staff positions throughout Canada and overseas.

His first appointment as a general officer was in 1970 as the founding Commander of Canadian Forces Northern Region, with headquarters in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

In 1980, on promotion to general, he was appointed Canada's sixth Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Principal Commander of the Order of Military Merit.

[4] From 1988 to 1998, he worked in the private sector as president of one government relations firm and founding chairman of another, as a director of an aerospace technology company and as a consultant to the Office of the Auditor General.

He served from 1977 to 1990 on the National Council of Scouts Canada and was a recipient of the Silver Wolf Award.

In 2002, on being nominated by The Royal Canadian Legion, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.

Archie Cairns composed the General Ramsey M. Withers (3/4 Retreat March 2003) for bagpipes in his honour.