Elster Ratliff
May 6, 1929 — January 17, 2010
Elster Ratliff
Elster Ratliff, 80, Kingsport, went to be with the Lord Sunday January 17, 2010 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was a member of Doran Addition Free Will Baptist Church.
Born in Dickenson County, VA, and raised in Pike County, KY, he moved to Kingsport in 1982 where he has since resided. Elster was a veteran of the Korean War. He was awarded the Korean Service Award along with four Bronze Stars. He was a member of the Mountain Empire Korean War Association, Inc., Chapter #289.
Elster was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather; a man who loved to serve his country and his community, and he will be missed. He also served as fire chief and deputy sheriff.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Silas and Mary Onecia Cantrell Ratliff; and several siblings.
Surviving are his his loving wife of 53 years, Patricia Ratliff; his daughters, Diana Kiser and husband, Tom, Kingsport, Debbie Woods and husband, Terry, Kingsport, and Beverly Ward and husband, Jimmy, Limestone; his sons, Darrell Ratliff and wife, Shari, Elkhorn City, KY, Richard Ratliff, Kingsport, Stephen Ratliff and wife, Kim, Kingsport, and Bruce Ratliff and wife, Kristi, Kingsport; fifteen grandchildren, Neil, Tami, Erin, John, Alicia, Peyton, Josh, Coby, Angel, Jaima, Cory, Alex, Aiden, Zach, and Isaac; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Ty, Devin, Chase, Cameron, and Kaylee; sister, Alene Belcher, Elkhorn City, KY; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport. Services will be at 8:00 p.m. with Dr. Roy Lester and David Foster officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain Home National Cemetery. The military graveside rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 3/265.
Pallbearers will be Darrell Ratliff, Richard Ratliff, Stephen Ratliff, Bruce Ratliff, Neil Gortney, Josh Ratliff, Tom Kiser, and Jimmy Ward. Honorary pallbearers will be Coby Ratliff, Peyton Ratliff, and Terry Woods.
Born in Dickenson County, VA, and raised in Pike County, KY, he moved to Kingsport in 1982 where he has since resided. Elster was a veteran of the Korean War. He was awarded the Korean Service Award along with four Bronze Stars. He was a member of the Mountain Empire Korean War Association, Inc., Chapter #289.
Elster was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather; a man who loved to serve his country and his community, and he will be missed. He also served as fire chief and deputy sheriff.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Silas and Mary Onecia Cantrell Ratliff; and several siblings.
Surviving are his his loving wife of 53 years, Patricia Ratliff; his daughters, Diana Kiser and husband, Tom, Kingsport, Debbie Woods and husband, Terry, Kingsport, and Beverly Ward and husband, Jimmy, Limestone; his sons, Darrell Ratliff and wife, Shari, Elkhorn City, KY, Richard Ratliff, Kingsport, Stephen Ratliff and wife, Kim, Kingsport, and Bruce Ratliff and wife, Kristi, Kingsport; fifteen grandchildren, Neil, Tami, Erin, John, Alicia, Peyton, Josh, Coby, Angel, Jaima, Cory, Alex, Aiden, Zach, and Isaac; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Ty, Devin, Chase, Cameron, and Kaylee; sister, Alene Belcher, Elkhorn City, KY; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport. Services will be at 8:00 p.m. with Dr. Roy Lester and David Foster officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain Home National Cemetery. The military graveside rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 3/265.
Pallbearers will be Darrell Ratliff, Richard Ratliff, Stephen Ratliff, Bruce Ratliff, Neil Gortney, Josh Ratliff, Tom Kiser, and Jimmy Ward. Honorary pallbearers will be Coby Ratliff, Peyton Ratliff, and Terry Woods.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elster Ratliff, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 10
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
