James Ratchford
James Warren Ratchford, 88, died peacefully at home on August 6, 2013, surrounded by his loving family.
Born and raised in Chattanooga, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bettie Scoggins Ratchford, parents, Robert Harold Ratchford, Sr. and Ruth Daniel Ratchford, sister, Imogene Baggett, brothers, Robert Harold Jr., Norman Kenneth, Maurice Lee, and Daniel Carlton Ratchford.
He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Sandy and Mike Kempf, Rebecca Martin, Jenny and Doug Anderton, and Robin and Steve Wells; grandchildren, David Kempf, Jennifer Snell, Matthew Martin, Jamie Loveday, Philip Anderton, Katie Kidd, Meg Sprouse, Leslie Swafford, Zach Wells, Skip Wells, and Abby Kenney; great-grandchildren, Andrew Kempf, London and Liam Snell, Nataly, Tyler, and Adyson Martin, Avery Loveday, Mary Sterling and Jack Anderton, Maggie and Emily Kidd, McAfee and Charles Henry Sprouse, Wells and Lane Swafford, brother and sister-in-law, Gordon and Ruth Ratchford, sister-in-law, Dolores Ratchford; and numerous nieces and nephews.
James, also known as J.W., Dub, Jug, Jim, Hon, Daddy, and Pop Pop, graduated from Central High School, and served in the United States Coast Guard during War World II. He loved all sports and was a great athlete. He played football for the Purple Pounders, basketball on a team comprised of his brothers called “The 6 Footers,” softball for the Electric Power Board where he worked as a lineman, and enjoyed playing golf later in life.
He was always a fun person to be around and a wonderful story teller: witty and funny with plenty of entertaining advice to go around. This advice was usually dispensed in the form of what the family refers to as “Dubisms.” Here are a few we would like to share:
· I don’t care how you’ve got it figured, you’ve got it figured wrong.
· I’d like to buy her for what she’s worth and sell her for what she thinks she’s worth.
· (When asked where he was going) I’m going down the road to see a man about a dog.
· (To his daughters and granddaughters) Men are like buses, another one will be along in five minutes.
· (And his all time favorite saying when anything went wrong) Confound it!
He loved and cared about people. He was a faithful member of East Lake Baptist Church throughout his life, and regularly visited nursing home patients and shut-ins as long as he was able. But, most of all he loved his family, and told them so every day. He was very affectionate, and “Come hug my neck” was his standard greeting.
The family wishes to thank Covenant Hospice for their extreme kindness and support.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 2:30-4 p.m. with the service immediately following at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, with Dr. Ronnie Mitchell of Crosspath at East Ridge officiating. Interment will be Monday, Aug. 12, at 11:30 a.m. at Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Avenue.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Hospital for Children, donors@stjude.org or 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory, and Florist, 404 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, TN 37412.