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Mr. John Anderson Ratcliffe III, age 81, a resident of Washington, died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, at Vidant Medical Center of Greenville.

A graveside funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, at Oakdale Cemetery, officiated by Pastor Darren Walker. Pallbearers will be Michael Walker, Burt Simons, Chad Warren, John Shook, Gene Edwards and Allen Lewis.

The family will receive friends following the service at the cemetery and other times at the home.

Mr. Ratcliffe was born in Carteret County on May 29, 1939, son of the late John A. Ratcliffe, Jr. and the late Swannie Mae Wade Ratcliffe. He was a 1958 graduate of Washington High School and was very proud of the fact that he was a member of the Washington Pam Pack football team that won the state championship. He continued his education at East Carolina University.

On Aug. 15, 1964, he married the love of his life, the former Sylvia Ann Keech, who survives. Mr. Ratcliffe proudly served his country in the North Carolina National Guard. His working career consisted of 35 years with WITN-TV as an engineer, and he played the role of Uncle John on the WITNey the Hobo Show, also known as “The Funny Page.” He was a dedicated member of First Free Will Baptist Church of Washington and served as a teacher and trustee and sang with the men’s quartet. Mr. Ratcliffe loved gardening and flowers, and he dearly loved his wife, children, grandchildren and his church.

Surviving along with his wife, Sylvia, of the home, are two sons: John Scott Ratcliffe (Amy), of South Mills, and Eric Todd Ratcliffe (Tani Shae), of Greenville; a sister, Nancy Ratcliffe Fischer, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; four grandchildren, Ashton, Wade, Alex and Samuel Ratcliffe; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased along with his parents by a sister, Harriette Ratcliffe Finch.

Flowers are welcome and appreciated or the family kindly asks that any memorial contributions be made to First Free Will Baptist Church, 901 N. Bonner St., Washington, NC 27889.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Ratcliffe family.