Charles Francis Ratcliffe Jr.

Charles Francis Ratcliffe, Jr. died peacefully Friday, October 10, 2025 at age 95. He was born in Natchez, Mississippi on March 12, 1930 and was raised there and in Houston, Texas, and moved to Mobile in 1945.

He graduated from Murphy High School and the University of Alabama where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Million Dollar Band. He then served in the United States Air Force at the Strategic Air Command headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska as a 2nd Lieutenant and Finance Officer. It was then that he married Valda Katrina Clark with whom he shared 72 years of marriage.

After two years of active duty, Charles was employed by International Paper Company at its Mobile mill, and for the next thirty years worked there, in Vicksburg, MS; Glens Falls, NY; Dallas TX and New York City. He then returned to Mobile and served as Associate Superintendent of the Mobile County Public School System for ten years.

Charles was an active member of Dauphin Way United Methodist Church, having joined in 1954, and over the years held many of the lay membership positions in the church. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Gulf Coast Blood Services for the Red Cross.

Charles was predeceased by his youngest son Lewis and is survived by his loving wife, Valda, sons Cliffe (Sally) of Heber City, UT, Clark (Julie) of Spanish Fort, daughter Margaret (Richard) Davis of the Town of Perdido Beach, AL; eight grandchildren, Rick (Marrilee) Davis, Laura (Laura) Davis, Leah Davis Cooper, William Cameron Davis, Kathy (Jarrod) Brewer, Bruce Ratcliffe, Alicia (Roman) Sherrod and Sarah (Rush) Hawkins and nine great-grandchildren, Laekin, Oaklie, Olivia, Maci, Richard, Vera, Elijah, Remi and Dash, all who knew and loved him as “Pop.”

His memorial service will be held in the Dauphin Way United Methodist Church Chapel on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM with visitation for an hour preceding the service in the parlor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dauphin Way United Methodist Church, 1507 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36604 or the charity of your choice.