Ratcliff, Jerry Ray

Jerry Ray Ratcliff, 73 of Narrows, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 6th, 2015.

A lifelong resident of Giles County, he was born on December 12th, 1941, and was the son of the late Wirt Jackson and Ida Caperton Ratcliff. In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Lisa Dawn Ratcliff; and four brothers, Jennings Ratcliff, Gene Ratcliff, Bill Ratcliff and Bob Ratcliff.

Known to many as “Paw Paw Jerry,” he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend. Jerry was a retired employee of Celanese Acetate in Narrows with 36 years of service. He also worked at Elm Tree Group Home in Pearisburg for a number of years. An avid Virginia Tech Hokies fan, he enjoyed dancing, cooking, and spending time with family.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 52 years, Barbara Ann (Bobbie) Conley Ratcliff; a daughter, Leslie Lucas and husband Chris of Narrows; a son, Keith Ratcliff of Bluewell, West Virginia; eight grandchildren, Megan Parcell Lusk and husband Jonathan, Jessica Stafford of San Marcos, Texas, Eddie Lucas of Narrows, Phillip Lucas of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Quenton Lucas of Narrows, along with McKinley, Brady, and Tempur of Bluewell; two great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Peyton Lusk; a sister, SueRatcliff Bland of Pearisburg; two sisters-in-law, Eloise Ratcliff of Glen Lyn and MargaretRatcliff of Pemberton, New Jersey; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many special friends, but especially his precious pug, Rambo.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 10th, 2015 at 2 PM in the Chapel of Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows with Rev. Magan Stubblefield and Pastor John Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Boyd Cemetery in the Wolf Creek community near Narrows. The family will receive friends at Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows Friday from 6 to 8 PM. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider Kathleen Memorial United Methodist Church, c/o Darlene Blankenship; 443 Skyview Lane; Narrows, Virginia 24124.

The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.