Vanta Ratliff

Vanta was born June 30, 1933, in Whitman, Logan County, West Virginia. She often spoke fondly of growing up in such a beautiful place surrounded by the majestic Appalachian Mountains and loved the beauty of simpler times.

She is preceded in death by her father Zeb, mother Ella, 5 Brothers, 3 Sisters, her beloved husband Vince and her 2 Sons Eddy and Teddy.

Vanta grew up in a strong Christian home filled with love and music. At any given time while traveling up the mountain to their stone house, you could hear the entire family singing the old-time gospel hymns.

Her Father was a coal miner and blacksmith while her mother was tasked with rearing 10 children. She got up early every morning to start a fire in the fireplace and bake biscuits for her family.

Vanta is survived by her sister Shirley, her two daughters Christy, married to Rick and Karen, married to Todd, 9 grandchildren; Dale, Danny, Jamie, Sara, Jessica, Steven, Scott, Holly, and Brian, 10 great grandchildren that she adored and 2 nieces Faith and Dawn that were like Daughters.

Vanta married at an early age to Carl and had four children. They moved to California in 1952 for Carl to join the Iron Workers union and he worked with her brother Glen. She adjusted to life in Southern California doing Waitress work and being involved with her school age children, but her heart was always in West Virginia.

She raised her children by going to church and passed down the moral principles she was given as a child. She loved being a part of her children’s activities growing up. She was very involved with the Boy Scouts for the boys and led the Brownie and Girl Scout troops for the girls. There were many scouting trips and later she was a big supporter of the marching band. She was always very ready for all the adventures with her children and the friends and cousins that came with that. All were always welcome in her home!

As her kids got older Vanta worked in the education field as a Special Education Teaching Assistant for 35 years. This is where she met her beloved husband, Vince. He was one of the bus drivers picking up the school children. They became friends and that friendship grew into a deep love, the kind of love that most people never find. When they were married instead of being announced as husband & wife they were presented as Mr. and Mrs. BUS 50!

Vanta was a long-standing member of California School Employees Association and joined the Rebekah’s, a branch of the Oddfellows Order and She was very involved with her Church. She taught Sunday school and was a part of the food ministry.

In her later years it became more difficult for her to attend church, but she enjoyed watching services on TV. It was quite common while she was watching church to suddenly hear her singing hymns in her room. She loved listening to the Gaither radio station every night while she was in bed.

Any opportunity there was to have family around was an absolute joy for her. She delighted in listening to her grand and then great grandchildren playing. She loved spending time in the backyard watching the birds & squirrels, helping water the flowers, and watching the tomatoes grow.

Vanta enjoyed the simple things in life. The kinds of things that we tend to forget in our busy lives meant the world to her. She loved fiercely and deeply and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family.

Vanta was the kind of person that no matter what happened she always forgave with immense love. That is one true God loving devoted Woman!