1919
Bascom
2013
Bascom Slemp Ratliff
August 27, 1919 — June 9, 2013
Mr. Bascom Slemp (Pete) Ratliff, age 93 passed away June 9, 2013 at the home of his daughter in Medon, TN.
He was born August 27, 1919 and reared in Vansant, Virginia, the son of the late Shadrack and Moriah Ratliff. He lived in Vansant through his school years and early work years until 1942, when he enlisted in the Navy at the beginning of World War II. He married Opal Marie Chun while stationed in Millington Naval Base in 1944. They made their home in Memphis, TN; Honolulu, Oahu; Cottonwood, MS; Selmer, TN; Jackson, TN and Bolivar, TN before settling in Toone, TN in 1955. He lost his home of fifty-five years to a house fire and stayed with his daughter, Barbara Jones from 2010 until the time of his death.
"Pete" (or Slemp) had many skills and interests. He was a mechanic and auto body man, outdoorsman and gardener. Fishing and dancing were among his favorite things to do. Many young men in the area knew him as their Boy Scout leader; many others knew "who had some of the best tomatoes around." You could also find him frying fish at local church functions.
His wife of 50 years, Opal, preceded him in death in 1995. He is survived by three sons, William, of Texas, Doyne and wife Johnnie of Humboldt, and Charles of Toone; two daughters, Diana Herlihy and husband Daniel of Jackson, and Barbara Jones and husband Larry of Medon; six living siblings of Tennessee and Virginia; twelve grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.
He was born August 27, 1919 and reared in Vansant, Virginia, the son of the late Shadrack and Moriah Ratliff. He lived in Vansant through his school years and early work years until 1942, when he enlisted in the Navy at the beginning of World War II. He married Opal Marie Chun while stationed in Millington Naval Base in 1944. They made their home in Memphis, TN; Honolulu, Oahu; Cottonwood, MS; Selmer, TN; Jackson, TN and Bolivar, TN before settling in Toone, TN in 1955. He lost his home of fifty-five years to a house fire and stayed with his daughter, Barbara Jones from 2010 until the time of his death.
"Pete" (or Slemp) had many skills and interests. He was a mechanic and auto body man, outdoorsman and gardener. Fishing and dancing were among his favorite things to do. Many young men in the area knew him as their Boy Scout leader; many others knew "who had some of the best tomatoes around." You could also find him frying fish at local church functions.
His wife of 50 years, Opal, preceded him in death in 1995. He is survived by three sons, William, of Texas, Doyne and wife Johnnie of Humboldt, and Charles of Toone; two daughters, Diana Herlihy and husband Daniel of Jackson, and Barbara Jones and husband Larry of Medon; six living siblings of Tennessee and Virginia; twelve grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.
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