Herbert Eugene "Gene" Ratliff, 83, of Decatur, passed away Thursday, November 29, 2012, at Dekalb Regional Hospital. He was born December 16, 1928, in Birmingham. He was retired from General Motors Acceptance Corporation for 35 years and retired from Alabama National Guard after 30 years of service as a Lieutenant Colonel Signal Corps USAR. He was a member of Central Baptist Church of Decatur. Gene was a Korean War veteran who served from 1951 to 1952 with the 1343rd Engineer Combat Batallion Decatur National Guard. He was an active member of Shorty's Boys of Decatur High School. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Carolyn Cowan Ratliff; parents, Thomas and Pauline Ratliff; and brother, Thomas Ratliff Jr.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 3, 2012, at 1 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Pat McFadden officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery in Hanceville.
Survivors include one daughter, Deborah Ratliff Bates (Phil) of Fort Payne; one sister, Peggy Ratliff Craft of Birmingham; one granddaughter, Cara Bates Burnett (Ben) of Auburn; one grandson, Judson Philip Bates (Jessica) of Birmingham; and one great-granddaughter, Ellie Parker Gunter.
Pallbearers will be Judson Bates, Ben Burnett, Thomas Craft, Steven Ratliff, Bobby Hestla and Phil Bates. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Jones, Charles Riley, Robert Lovelady and Don Hoes.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the friends and employees of The Terrace at Priceville. Memorial gifts may be made to Valor Flight, P.O. Box 1353, Madison, AL 35758 and Shorty's Boys Scholarship Fund in care of Charles Riley
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