John Robert Ratcliffe Sr.

Bluefield, WV- John Robert “Bob” Ratcliffe, Sr., 72, of Bluefield, WV, was given life and entered his Earthly home on July 8, 1944 and departed for eternal life in Heaven on July 3, 2017. Bob was born in Bluefield, WV to the late Thomas Alexander Ratcliffe and Ila Jean Scott Ratcliffe. He was a 1963 graduate of Graham High School and a 1966 graduate of Bluefield State College. He began working for AEP in 1966 and retired in 1999 after 33 years of employment. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard. Bob was a very talented man who had many diverse hobbies. He enjoyed artwork, clockwork, and wood working. He also orchestrated many pyrotechnic displays through the years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and cooking. He was a former member of Triangle Sportsman Club where he enjoyed shooting skeet and trap, and he also liked archery. Bob was most renowned for his musical talent as a guitarist, and he was a former member of numerous local bands. He was a member of Cumberland Heights Baptist Church where he had previously served as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, and was active with the music department. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Susan Rebecca Atwell Ratcliffe; two children, Robyn Suzanne Nelsen of Seabrook, TX, and John Robert Ratcliffe, Jr. of Bluefield, WV; sister, Donna Coleman and husband Greg of Athens, WV; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Barbara Atwell of Bluefield, WV, Andy and Terri Atwell, and Mark and Anne Atwell; three aunts, Ellen Scott Windle and husband Eddie of Bluefield, VA, Mary Ruth Scott of Bluefield, VA, and Dorothy Scott of Milan, IN; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, special musical friends, Dwight “Wacky” Bryant, Allen Burgess, Donnie Goins, Don Whitt, Larry Gilpin, Ron Dash, Tim Noel, R.T. Andrews, Wayne Kitts, and many more; special neighbors, Charlotte and Tracy Parker, and Sheila Noel; special friend, Tom Gibson; and his feline friends, Booger and Pea Dad. Funeral services will be held on Thursday July 6, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. from the Mercer Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor J.H. Kestner officiating. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour. Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens where John Ratcliffe, Jr., Mark Atwell, Jeff Atwell, Eric Atwell, Greg Coleman and Barry Vaughn will serve as pallbearers. Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Cumberland Heights Baptist Church, 3811 E. Cumberland Road, Bluefield, WV 24701 or to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, 733 Third Avenue, Suite 510, New York, NY 10017. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mr. John Robert “Bob” Ratcliffe, Sr.

John Robert Ratcliffe Sr.

July 8, 1944 - July 3, 2017