PROCTORVILLE — John Prentice Ratcliff, 85, of Proctorville, died Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, from congestive heart failure.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Ashley and Gypsey Louise (Stepp) Ratcliff of Stonecoal, W.Va. and is survived by brothers Millard Ratcliff of Proctorville, Jim Ratcliff of Crum, W.Va., and foster sister Phyllis Watts of Delaware.
John retired from the United States Air Force as captain and served several stateside posts and two major overseas assignments: Asia-Pacific Theatre and England. In London, he commanded the Queen’s Honor Guard for the dedication of the American War Memorial Chapel of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and also served as officer in charge of armed forces couriers assigned to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. John earned the Army Good Conduct Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; Victory Medal, WW II; Army of Occupation (Japan); American Defense Service Medal; AF Reserve Medal; West Virginia National Guard Service Medal; and the Yugoslavia Liberation Medal, WWII.
John was a mathematics and science teacher in the secondary public school systems and a school administrator. He served 23 years in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in several key roles, including deputy commander, chief of staff and commander of the West Virginia Wing, and also as commander of the Middle East Region. He is a three-time graduate of Marshall University where he earned his bachelor of science and two master’s degrees.
John is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara “Peggy” Darnall Ratcliff; their children, Anna, Janet, John Eric (Rick), David and Marjorie; nine grandchildren; two great grandsons; and six step-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to BJ White and Tami Fulton, and the staff at Heritage Center and Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House for the loving care they provided.
Friends and family are invited to a viewing to be 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Hall Funeral Home. A full United States Air Force military honors ceremony will be conducted in John’s honor at 3 p.m. Dec. 4 at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House of Huntington, West Virginia. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.