Mr. James Bernard Ratchford, age 77, a resident of Chocowinity, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, at his home. A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, officiated by Father M. Arturo Cabra. Carl Bortner, Buzz Clagett, Billy Dietrick, Larry Dietrick, Otto Florschutz and Dick Watson will serve as pallbearers. Hillside Funeral Service will be catering a reception for family and friends at the Cypress Landing Bay Club following the service. A Rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Hillside Funeral Service and Cremations, 4500 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington. The family will also receive friends following the Rosary.
James was born on June 24, 1934 in Cresson, Pa., son of the late Bernard Ratchford and Esther Friedhoff Ratchford. He earned a BS degree from St. Francis College, Loretto, Pa. and retired from IBM after 30 years of service as a diagnostic engineer. James was a member of Mother of Mercy Catholic Church for the past 15 years and served as an altar boy, a charter and former member of the Power Squadron and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed boating, bowling, cycling, reading, cooking, computers, puzzles, his “granddog” Bailey and anything that presented a challenge.
In addition to his wife of 52 years, Florence Ann “Flossie” Ratchford, James is survived by his son, Louis James Ratchford of Vienna, Va.; his daughters, Louise Esther “Cricket” Borrelli of San Diego, Calif., and Lynn Marie Ratchford and husband Guy Krause; his grandchildren, Michaela and Benjamin Krause of Jefferson City, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews and in-laws.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown St., Washington, NC 27889 or Mother of Mercy Catholic Church Building Fund, 112 W. 9th St., Washington, NC 27889.
You may share a memory with the family by visiting hillsidefuneralservice.com.
Hillside Funeral Service & Cremations, 4500 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, NC (252) 975-4500, has been given the honor of being entrusted with serving the Ratchford family.