Bently Odell Ratcliffe

In Loving Memory of Bently Odell Ratcliffe RATCLIFFE, BENTLY ODELL, 78 of Pearisburg , VA , went to be with the Lord Thursday morning April 16, 2009 in Bristol Regional Hospital .  Odell was born on July 29, 1930 in Bluff City , VA and was a son of the late Wirt Jackson Ratcliffe and Zenobia Davis Ratcliffe.  Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Ellen Akers, five brothers, Budley, Tommy Luther, Cecil, Claude and one sister Sally Viars.  Odell was a Korean War Army Veteran, owned and operated the Tastee Freeze in Pearisburg for 30 years, was a member of the American Legion Post #68 in Narrows American Legion Post #311 and VFW Post #6000 in Narrows, was a lifetime member of the Giles Masonic Lodge # 106 in Pearisburg, A.F & A.M. and was a true fan of Giles Spartan Football. Odell was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and was loved by all in the community.  He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Comer Ratcliffe of Pearisburg, two daughters, Diane R and husband Skip Bradley of Pearisburg, Amy R. and Rhett Butler of Pearisburg, two sons, Mike and wife Carol Ratcliffe of Newport, Bentley and wife Doris Ratcliffe of Pearisburg, two sisters, Bonnie and husband Clyde Ratcliffe of Pearisburg, Francis and Billy Farley of Pearisburg, three brothers, Roger and wife Brenda Ratcliffe of Salem, Roy and Ellen Ratcliffe of Princeton, Oakley Ratcliffe of Pearisburg, thirteen grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, one special great grandchild, Sophie, and very special friends, Lacy and Martha Ratcliffe of Pearisburg.  A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 2:00pm at God’s House Church in Hoges Chapel, VA with Pastor Wayman Creger, the Rev Bill Brown, Tommy Gordon and Rev Ron Barnard officiating with burial following in the Ratcliffe Family Cemetery in Pearisburg, VA.  The family will receive friends at the Givens Funeral Home Saturday evening from 6 – 8 pm. The grandsons will serve as pallbearers and military honors will be given by American Legion Post #68 in Narrows American Legion Post #311 and VFW Post #6000 in Narrows .  The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Harry McCoy, Dr. Kenneth J. Walker and to the ICU nursing staff at Montgomery Regional Hospital .  Condolences can be sent to the family at givensfuneralhome.com. If you would like to send your condolences to the family via Givens Funeral Home, simply sign the Memorial Guestbook by clicking the link.  Your condolences will be printed out and given to the family.