Funeral services for William Carey Ratchford, Jr. of Silsbee will be 10am Thursday, April 15, 2010 at First United Methodist Church in Silsbee with burial being 3pm Friday April 16 at City Cemetery in LaFayette, Alabama.
Visitation will be 5-8pm Wednesday April 14, 2010 at the funeral home.
W.C. "Bill" Ratchford Jr. went home to be with the Lord on April 12, 2010. Bill was born in Sylacauga, Alabama on December 26, 1925 to W.C. Ratchford Sr. and Catherine "Girlie" Ratchford. Bill grew up in LaFayette, Alabama, going through public schools there until mid high school when he went to Tennessee Military Institute, graduating in 1944. Upon graduating from TMI, he enrolled at Auburn University and attended until he was drafted in the armed forces and proudly served his county. As Navel Airman he was a radio operator on search and rescue patrol planes based at Jacksonville, Fla. Naval Air Station. After his discharge from the Navy he returned to Auburn University on the GI Bill, later transferring to Georgetown University, graduating in 1950 from the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University.
In June 1950, Bill married Jean McNeil of Silsbee, TX. After marriage, he worked for the CIA in Washington, D.C.. In 1952 he took a job in foreign sales with Superior Bus Corp. based in Kosciusko. Miss. In 1955 Bill inherited his father's business I LaFayette, Al, the county distributorship of Standard Oil products. HE operated the business until he moved to Texas in 1963.
At this time he obtained a teaching certificate and taught history and geography in Silsbee Junior High School from 1963-1966. He then became a school counselor in the SISD Middle School and served there until his retirement in 1990. HE was State President of the Texas School Counselors' Association in 1973-74.
Bill was widowed in 1971 and in 1972 married Nancy M. McCall of Beaumont. Though already raising two teenage boys by himself, he was not one to back down from a challenge and jumped in with both feet helping to raise Nancy's three teenage girls. He was a positive role model as head of a blended family.
Bill followed Silsbee Tiger sports, but his favorite of all was college football where he faithfully followed his beloved Auburn Tigers through thick and thin. He was a serious fan of most auto racing, especially NACAR.
As a young man he was an Eagle Scout, and as a young adult was active in civic organizations such as Jaycees and was a volunteer fireman in LaFayette. Bill loved gardening, especially growing camellias and azaleas. Another passionate hobby was rock polishing and gem and mineral collecting. He and Nancy loved to go on cruises and travel to different places.
He was a long time member of First United Methodist Church in Silsbee, and was active in the Men's Bible class.
He and Nancy were teachers of the Cornerstone Class at First UMC from 1975-1989. He was active in the Primetimers and worked with the Young Adult Bible Study group at First United Methodist Church.
An avid outdoorsman, Bill was fond of camping, fishing, hunting and shooting and photography. He was handy around the house and eagerly taught his skills and interests to his family and friends. He was a teacher, provider, protector and friend. He was a wonderful husband and father. He was a kind and loving man and he will be sorely missed by his loved ones and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, W.C. Ratchford Sr. and "Girlie" Ratchford, his first wife Jean McNeil Ratchford, sister and brother-in-law Jan and Benton Cogburn, and brother-in-law James C. Jeffrey.
He is survived by his wife of thirty-seven years, Nancy M. Ratchford, sons Doug and Lynnett Ratchford of Brenham, and David and Mary Jane Ratchford of Bellaire, daughters Lydia and Kent Bratcher of Waco, Lisa and Eduardo Moreno of McKinney, Laurie and Britt Barr of Austin, and uncle William J. Tuxworth of Charleston S.C., sisters-in-law Ann Jeffrey of Silsbee, and Gladys Gardner of Houston, brother-in-law Phil and Jane Mockford of Austin, eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
I lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church in Silsbee, TX.
