William “Bill” Vaden Ratcliffe, 84, a resident of Cleveland passed away Saturday, January 12, 2013 in a local hospital. He was a veteran of the US Marines and a member of Clingan Ridge Baptist Church. Mr. Ratcliffe was retired from J.H. Kellman Industries after 24 years of service. 

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Emma Broomfield Ratcliffe; parents, William T. Ratcliffe and Lillian W. Ratcliffe; sisters, Geneva Prince and Evelyn (Jack) Reese; brothers, Herman (Phyllis) Ratcliffe and Joe (June) Ratcliffe.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Jean H. Ratcliffe of Cleveland; son, Gary D. Ratcliffe of Cleveland; daughter, Jo Ann R. (Larry D.)  Cavett of Cleveland; grandsons, Mark A. (Rebecca) Ratcliffe of Greenville, SC, and Jonathan Vaden (Tara) Cavett of Cleveland; great-granddaughter, Callie A. Ratcliffe of Greenville, SC; and great-grandson, Hezekiah D. Cavett of Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 15, 2013 in the chapel of Fike Funeral Home with the Reverend Carl Duckworth and grandson, Jonathan Cavett officiating. Interment will follow in the Smyrna Baptist Church Cemetery. The service will conclude with a white dove release ceremony.

His family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home prior to the service.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Ratcliffe family guestbook at www.fikefh.com