Obituaries
Birthplace: Selma, Ala.
City of Residence: Chardon Township, OH
Memorial Date: 01/02/2013 - 6 p.m.
Memorial Location: Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon.
Rufus K. Ratcliffe, of Chardon Township, died Dec. 30, 2012, at his home. He was 90.
Born Jan. 26, 1922, in Selma, Ala., to Edgar and Minna Christine (nee Kilpatrick) Ratcliffe, he had been a longtime area resident.
Rufus married Lois Lynette Litton on Apr. 21, 1945, in East Cleveland.
Mr. Ratcliffe served with the Army Air Corp during World War II.
Rufus was the owner of Ratcliffe Home Improvements. After his retirement, he found his passion for beekeeping and honey sales; fondly known as the Honey Man.
He was a member of Chardon Lodge F & AM # 93; Village Lodge F & AM #274; Al Koran Shrine and Pilgrim Christian Church in Chardon.
Rufus is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lynette of Chardon; son, Mack (Cynthia) of Sonoita, Ariz.; daughters, Christine (Richard) Ratcliffe-Beall of Shreveport, La., and Nancy (Michael) Tvergyak of Chardon; grandchildren, Mack Jr., Megan and Kip Ratcliffe, David (Annice) and Andrew Larkin, Dr. Leah (Robert) Gongola, Rachael (Sean Conroy) Tvergyak and Michael Tvergyak Jr.; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Ratcliffe, Gabriel, Michael and Natalie Larkin; and brother Jefferson (Bessie) of Selma, Ala.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother Edgar Jr.
Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 2 at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon. Catherine Kilpatrick Walsh will officiate.
A gathering of friends and family will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations suggested to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Office of Donor Development Shriners Hospitals for Children International Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or Hospice of Care Corp, 831 South St., Chardon, OH 44024.
Information and condolences online at www.burrservice.com.
