Virginia Ratliff January 30, 1929 – November 8, 2024
Teacher at Valley Local High School
Former Longtime Lucasville Resident (currently Westerville Resident)
FC Daehler Mortuary
Virginia Evelyn Lewis Ratliff, 95, recently living in retirement in Westerville, Ohio but a long-time resident of Lucasville died November 8, 2024, in her home surrounded by her sons.
Born January 30, 1929, in Boyd County, Kentucky as the last child of the late Waller Lee and Alice Irene Baugess Lewis. A proud 1947 graduate of Boyd County High School, she then received her degree in vocational home economics from the University of Kentucky in 1951.
After brief tenures at Hellier (Kentucky) High School, Ashland Paul Blazer High School, and Portsmouth Mckinley Junior High, she worked over four years as the Girl Scout Trainer and Day Camp Coordinator for Scioto, Pike, Jackson and Vinton counties before enjoying 30 years as a home economics teacher and FHA advisor at Valley Local High School.
Her career was punctuated by working with numerous FHA state officers, developing and teaching the curriculum for the first male home economics classes for both Ohio and Kentucky, as well as election to Delta Kappa Gamma honorary society for women educators.
Surviving are sons Dr. Jules Eric Ratliff (Diane) and Keith Edward Ratliff (Pamela), granddaughter Amy Michelle Gartrell (Stuart) and great-grandson Samuel Jules Gartrell all of Westerville, Ohio, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 43 years Jules Edward Ratliff, as well as brothers Walter Lee Lewis Jr., Adrian Elwood Lewis Sr., and Woodrow Wilson Lewis, and sisters Gladys Irene Lewis Rausch and Mavis Joetta Lewis Roberson.
Virginia had a passion for teaching, mentoring, helping others, and family. Many nieces and nephews were loved and cared for in many ways. She was an avid University of Kentucky basketball, and Ohio State University football fan — always asking when the next games were. In addition to being an excellent cook, her hobbies included gardening, reading, bible study, painting, and meaningful discussion — especially politics and current events.
Friends may call from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM on Wednesday November 13, 2024 and from 10:30 AM until 12:00 PM NOON on Thursday until the time of service.
Services will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at FC Daehler Mortuary, 915 Ninth Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662.
Interment in Rose Hill Cemetery, Ashland, KY.
Reverend Jay Groat officiating.
Please visit www.fcdaehlermortuary.com to leave a special memory of Virginia or condolences for her family.
