Arlester Samuel Ratcliff, affectionatley known as "Fatman," departed this life on Thursday, March 9th, his son Glenn's birthday. Arlester was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on July 18, 1919 to Arlester Samuel Ratcliff, affectionately known as "Sonny" and Elsie Violet Briggs Ratcliff. Dr. Ethelyn Bernice Angela Ratcliff Strong, his sister died on July 19, 1986 and his brother Joseph Warren cornelius Ratcliff died on august 11, 1999.
Arlester's early childhood was spent in Detriot, Michigan where he attended school. After the death of his grandfather Joseph Briggs, Arlester interrupted his education in Michigan because his grandmother Hannah Briigs needed him to come back home to Virginia to help supplement her modest income after her husband's sudden death. Arlester loved his grandmother and made the ultimate sacrifice of his education. He was a great provider for all of his family,including several of his grandchildren. It was decided that his brother and sister would reamin in Detriot to finish theireducation and graduate from high school. He was unable to finish high school and his goal of becoming a lawyer was never realized, but he enjoyed seeing both of his siblings rise to high heights in their respective careers. He loved and was very proud of his big sister "Ethelyn" and was very proud when he attended her graduation from The Catholic University of America where she attained her Doctoral degree. He was equally proud of his younger brother "Joseph" who served as shop Steward for Chrysler Corporation in Detriot. Arlester started his professional career as a helper in te Norfolk Naval shipyard in Portsmouth and retired as a Supervisor at the Norfolk Naval Air Station after 38 years of faithful service.
He met and fell in love with Annie shirley Morse. Upon her death on May 13, 2015 they had been married one month shy of 76 years. The union produce 4 children, Joan Estelle, Arlester Samuel, affectionately known as Joe Louis, Richard who was still born and Glenn Alexander.
Baseball was Arlester's number one sport, so much so thathe had his own team, the Portsmouth Merrimacs. whenever, he taveled with his son to richmond and they trekked down Route 460,he would be reminded of the many games thathe and his teamplayed in the area. His favoriteprofessional team is the New York Yankees.
Arlester was predeceased by his wife, Annie: their two sons, Arlester S. Ratcliff, Jr and Richard Ratcliff; his parents, Arlester Samuel Ratcliff and Elsie Violet Briggs Ratcliff Lucas; his sister Dr. Ethelyn Ratcliff Strong; and his brother Joseph Warren Cornelius Ratcliff. He was also preceded in death by a special neice that he loved dearly, Joy Stephanie Strong who departed this life in 1980.
He leaves to cherish his memory, a daughter, Joan Ratcliff Rountree, Portsmouth, Virginia and a son, Glenn Alexander Ratcliff, Richmond, Virginia. He also leaves six grandchildren, Debora Ann Lassiter, Cheryl Bostic, Arthur Rountree, Danita Roxanne Epps, Shaunita Ratcliff-Durham and Arlester Ratcliff III; 9 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is also survived by several neices and nephews that he loved dearly, Linwood Strong, Dr. Faye Strong Felton, Elsie Strong, Stephen William Antonio Strong and Joseph Warren Ratcliff.
Arlester's early childhood was spent in Detriot, Michigan where he attended school. After the death of his grandfather Joseph Briggs, Arlester interrupted his education in Michigan because his grandmother Hannah Briigs needed him to come back home to Virginia to help supplement her modest income after her husband's sudden death. Arlester loved his grandmother and made the ultimate sacrifice of his education. He was a great provider for all of his family,including several of his grandchildren. It was decided that his brother and sister would reamin in Detriot to finish theireducation and graduate from high school. He was unable to finish high school and his goal of becoming a lawyer was never realized, but he enjoyed seeing both of his siblings rise to high heights in their respective careers. He loved and was very proud of his big sister "Ethelyn" and was very proud when he attended her graduation from The Catholic University of America where she attained her Doctoral degree. He was equally proud of his younger brother "Joseph" who served as shop Steward for Chrysler Corporation in Detriot. Arlester started his professional career as a helper in te Norfolk Naval shipyard in Portsmouth and retired as a Supervisor at the Norfolk Naval Air Station after 38 years of faithful service.
He met and fell in love with Annie shirley Morse. Upon her death on May 13, 2015 they had been married one month shy of 76 years. The union produce 4 children, Joan Estelle, Arlester Samuel, affectionately known as Joe Louis, Richard who was still born and Glenn Alexander.
Baseball was Arlester's number one sport, so much so thathe had his own team, the Portsmouth Merrimacs. whenever, he taveled with his son to richmond and they trekked down Route 460,he would be reminded of the many games thathe and his teamplayed in the area. His favoriteprofessional team is the New York Yankees.
Arlester was predeceased by his wife, Annie: their two sons, Arlester S. Ratcliff, Jr and Richard Ratcliff; his parents, Arlester Samuel Ratcliff and Elsie Violet Briggs Ratcliff Lucas; his sister Dr. Ethelyn Ratcliff Strong; and his brother Joseph Warren Cornelius Ratcliff. He was also preceded in death by a special neice that he loved dearly, Joy Stephanie Strong who departed this life in 1980.
He leaves to cherish his memory, a daughter, Joan Ratcliff Rountree, Portsmouth, Virginia and a son, Glenn Alexander Ratcliff, Richmond, Virginia. He also leaves six grandchildren, Debora Ann Lassiter, Cheryl Bostic, Arthur Rountree, Danita Roxanne Epps, Shaunita Ratcliff-Durham and Arlester Ratcliff III; 9 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is also survived by several neices and nephews that he loved dearly, Linwood Strong, Dr. Faye Strong Felton, Elsie Strong, Stephen William Antonio Strong and Joseph Warren Ratcliff.
Arlester Samuel Ratcliff, affectionatley known as "Fatman," departed this life on Thursday, March 9th, his son Glenn's birthday. Arlester was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on July 18, 1919 to Arlester Samuel Ratcliff, affectionately known as "Sonny" and Elsie Violet Briggs Ratcliff. Dr. Ethelyn Bernice Angela Ratcliff Strong, his sister died on July 19, 1986 and his brother Joseph Warren cornelius Ratcliff died on august 11, 1999.
Arlester's early childhood was spent in Detriot, Michigan where he attended school. After the death of his grandfather Joseph Briggs, Arlester interrupted his education in Michigan because his grandmother Hannah Briigs needed him to come back home to Virginia to help supplement her modest income after her husband's sudden death. Arlester loved his grandmother and made the ultimate sacrifice of his education. He was a great provider for all of his family,including several of his grandchildren. It was decided that his brother and sister would reamin in Detriot to finish theireducation and graduate from high school. He was unable to finish high school and his goal of becoming a lawyer was never realized, but he enjoyed seeing both of his siblings rise to high heights in their respective careers. He loved and was very proud of his big sister "Ethelyn" and was very proud when he attended her graduation from The Catholic University of America where she attained her Doctoral degree. He was equally proud of his younger brother "Joseph" who served as shop Steward for Chrysler Corporation in Detriot. Arlester started his professional career as a helper in te Norfolk Naval shipyard in Portsmouth and retired as a Supervisor at the Norfolk Naval Air Station after 38 years of faithful service.
He met and fell in love with Annie shirley Morse. Upon her death on May 13, 2015 they had been married one month shy of 76 years. The union produce 4 children, Joan Estelle, Arlester Samuel, affectionately known as Joe Louis, Richard who was still born and Glenn Alexander.
Baseball was Arlester's number one sport, so much so thathe had his own team, the Portsmouth Merrimacs. whenever, he taveled with his son to richmond and they trekked down Route 460,he would be reminded of the many games thathe and his teamplayed in the area. His favoriteprofessional team is the New York Yankees.
Arlester was predeceased by his wife, Annie: their two sons, Arlester S. Ratcliff, Jr and Richard Ratcliff; his parents, Arlester Samuel Ratcliff and Elsie Violet Briggs Ratcliff Lucas; his sister Dr. Ethelyn Ratcliff Strong; and his brother Joseph Warren Cornelius Ratcliff. He was also preceded in death by a special neice that he loved dearly, Joy Stephanie Strong who departed this life in 1980.
He leaves to cherish his memory, a daughter, Joan Ratcliff Rountree, Portsmouth, Virginia and a son, Glenn Alexander Ratcliff, Richmond, Virginia. He also leaves six grandchildren, Debora Ann Lassiter, Cheryl Bostic, Arthur Rountree, Danita Roxanne Epps, Shaunita Ratcliff-Durham and Arlester Ratcliff III; 9 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is also survived by several neices and nephews that he loved dearly, Linwood Strong, Dr. Faye Strong Felton, Elsie Strong, Stephen William Antonio Strong and Joseph Warren Ratcliff.
Arlester's early childhood was spent in Detriot, Michigan where he attended school. After the death of his grandfather Joseph Briggs, Arlester interrupted his education in Michigan because his grandmother Hannah Briigs needed him to come back home to Virginia to help supplement her modest income after her husband's sudden death. Arlester loved his grandmother and made the ultimate sacrifice of his education. He was a great provider for all of his family,including several of his grandchildren. It was decided that his brother and sister would reamin in Detriot to finish theireducation and graduate from high school. He was unable to finish high school and his goal of becoming a lawyer was never realized, but he enjoyed seeing both of his siblings rise to high heights in their respective careers. He loved and was very proud of his big sister "Ethelyn" and was very proud when he attended her graduation from The Catholic University of America where she attained her Doctoral degree. He was equally proud of his younger brother "Joseph" who served as shop Steward for Chrysler Corporation in Detriot. Arlester started his professional career as a helper in te Norfolk Naval shipyard in Portsmouth and retired as a Supervisor at the Norfolk Naval Air Station after 38 years of faithful service.
He met and fell in love with Annie shirley Morse. Upon her death on May 13, 2015 they had been married one month shy of 76 years. The union produce 4 children, Joan Estelle, Arlester Samuel, affectionately known as Joe Louis, Richard who was still born and Glenn Alexander.
Baseball was Arlester's number one sport, so much so thathe had his own team, the Portsmouth Merrimacs. whenever, he taveled with his son to richmond and they trekked down Route 460,he would be reminded of the many games thathe and his teamplayed in the area. His favoriteprofessional team is the New York Yankees.
Arlester was predeceased by his wife, Annie: their two sons, Arlester S. Ratcliff, Jr and Richard Ratcliff; his parents, Arlester Samuel Ratcliff and Elsie Violet Briggs Ratcliff Lucas; his sister Dr. Ethelyn Ratcliff Strong; and his brother Joseph Warren Cornelius Ratcliff. He was also preceded in death by a special neice that he loved dearly, Joy Stephanie Strong who departed this life in 1980.
He leaves to cherish his memory, a daughter, Joan Ratcliff Rountree, Portsmouth, Virginia and a son, Glenn Alexander Ratcliff, Richmond, Virginia. He also leaves six grandchildren, Debora Ann Lassiter, Cheryl Bostic, Arthur Rountree, Danita Roxanne Epps, Shaunita Ratcliff-Durham and Arlester Ratcliff III; 9 great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is also survived by several neices and nephews that he loved dearly, Linwood Strong, Dr. Faye Strong Felton, Elsie Strong, Stephen William Antonio Strong and Joseph Warren Ratcliff.
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ARLESTER S. "FAT MAN"
JULY 18, 1919
MAR 9, 2017
RATCLIFF
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