Frank E. Ratcliff

Frank E. Ratcliff, was born February 28th, 1919, in Ringwood, Oklahoma to B.P. and Mary (Whitt) Ratcliff, the 11th child of 13 siblings. He left this life, May 1st, 2012, after 93 years, 2 months and 2 days. As a young man, Frank was an athlete, a motorcycle enthusiast and a good student as well. He began his military service in WWII at 22 years old in February of 1942 and served till the end of the war in 1945. He was a mechanic and worked up to the rank of S-Sgt and was awarded several medals for his ingenuity. One such award was a 50 caliber, mobile gun, that was inspected by General George Patton. He was commended face to face for his effort, but General Patton was in a hurry.

Frank married Leona Edwards just prior to being shipped out to Europe. They had a son, Wayne. Leona was killed in 1943 when she fell from a window that she had used at break time to rest from working for the war effort here in Oklahoma City. Frank was unable to return for the funeral from his duties until after the war ended.

Frank married Edith Otts Smith, March 15th, 1946. Edith’s husband was killed in the early 40’s. She had one son, Ray. Frank and Edith celebrated 59 years of marriage until her death in February of 2006.

Frank had graduated from OCU in 1941 with a BA in Commercial Art and used this as his vocation beginning in 1946 until he retired. His Sooner Sign Co. signs ranged from “Sales” cards to grain elevators in Louisiana; From “Cowboy Coupes” to Blanton Properties real estate. For 50 years his signs and art were seen throughout OKC area and other states. The date of ‘retirement’ is subject to who you talk with because he helped the church and all of us kids until his death.

Frank was active in the Church of Christ since the age of 22, when he was baptized into Jesus Christ; He was an elder of the church at 12th & N. Blackwelder; They moved to Shawnee and attended the church at 10th & Shawnee, until they moved to the present location in Aydelotte. In declining health, Frank moved back to OKC and spent his remaining years at Ann Arbor Church, where 12th & N. Blackwelder now resides.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Leona; second wife, Edith; sons, Ray Smith and Wayne Ratcliff; 2 sets of infant twin siblings; sister, Mabel Lindell; brother, Drummond Ratcliff; sister, Eunice Lindsay; sister, Lois Linville; brother, George Ratcliff; sister, Marie Lindell; and brother, Edgar Ratcliff.

He is survived by Drew Ratcliff and wife, Linda; Ron Ratcliff and wife, Norma; and Martha (Marty) Bull. Grandchildren: Travis and Brandt Ratcliff and Heather McKinnish; Eric, Chad, Clay and Amy Ratcliff; Mathew Baxter; and one brother, Earl Ratcliff.

We cannot adequately express our “Thanks” to all who have come to our comfort and aid during these stressful times. Dad’s faith in the Lord and the church family in OKC and Shawnee and the brotherhood throughout are our strength in this time of great loss; friends and family alike, we thank you for your time and effort, the excellent foods and treats and phone calls, even the ‘texts’ our children are so fond of sending. We “Thank” the Crossroads Hospice folks for being there with us through the last 4+ months; without your help, to name only a few: nurse Becky and Melissa the aide who has been with us the longest.