Curtis Eugene Ratliff

Abingdon, VA Curtis Eugene Ratliff, age 91, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2015. He was born on October 25, 1923, the second of thirteen children born to the late John D. Ratliff, Sr. and Buggie Looney Ratliff in Buchanan County, VA. Curtis was a veteran of the United States Navy and served in the Atlantic Theater during World War II. He met his wife, Elaine, while completing his tour of duty. He joined Elaine’s family business, Geneva Dial Co., while in New York City. The family relocated to Abingdon, VA in 1961 where they built and operated the Alpine Motel. Curtis simultaneously worked at Sterling Casket Hardware. The motel was sold in 1995 and they moved to their house on the hill which was his “bird sanctuary”. He especially enjoyed his large flock of Purple Martins. He was of the Primitive Baptist faith. In addition to his parents, Curtis was also preceded in death by five siblings: an infant sister, Ruth Ratliff; Faye Ratliff; John D. Ratliff, Jr.; Virginia “Jean” Boyd; and Ray Ransom Ratliff; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Jantzen and George LaTragna; and a daughter-in-law, Deanna M. Ratliff. He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Elaine Courvoisier Ratliff; son, Richard C. “Rick” Ratliff of Abingdon, VA; daughter, Linda Ratliff (Johnnie) Cole of Mechanicsville, VA; four brothers, Ralph (Edith) Ratliff, Frank (Ruby) Ratliff, Clint (Mabel) Ratliff, and Claude (Ida) Ratliff; three sisters, Tora LaTragna, Lorene Jantzen, and Loretta (Tom) Albert; sister-in-law, Maria Ratliff; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Cole (Keith) Jenkins, Jeana Cole (Gregory) Jenkins, Jay (Kelly) Cole, Jimmy (Georgia) Cole, Marianne (Manley Kiser) Harvey, Ian M. Ratliff, and Miles Ratliff; ten great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Gracie, Cole, and Gabriel Jenkins, Christopher, Aubrey, Vivian, and Julian Cole, Olivia Harvey, and Molly Lou Kiser; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2015, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service. A funeral ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 12 at the funeral home with Pastor Tim Reynolds officiating. Entombment will follow at the Serenity Garden Mausoleum of Forest Hills Memory Gardens where pallbearers will be Jay and Jimmy Cole, Ian and Miles Ratliff, and Keith and Gregory Jenkins. Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Campbell and Donald and James Ratliff. Military honors will be provided by the Highlands Veterans Honor Guard and the United States Navy. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. John A. Fincher and his cyberknife navigator Trina Fraley, and Dr. Ahmad Hammad and his nurse Jennifer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. The family of Curtis Eugene Ratliff is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.