Gale L. Ratliff

Gale Leigh Ratliff, 66, of Ellsinore died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 at his residence.

Mr. Ratliff was born Dec. 31, 1942, in at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Aurora, Col. He completed Air Force High School G.E.D. Diploma; attended college studying American History and English; and had special training in Three Dimensional Real Life Drafting and Drawing. Mr. Ratliff was of the Baptist faith, and was a 10 year veteran of the United States Air Force, having served in San Antonio, Tex; March AFB, California, RAF Brize Norton, England; High-Wycombe AB, England; Colorado Springs, Colorado Air Force Headquarters; Ton Son Nhut AB (Saigon), Vietnam 1968-1969 Ted-Offensive (18 Months); and moving into civilian life July, 1969. He was a Life time member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 21; National Order of Trench Rats Dugout 608; Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Post 6477 and Cooties; VFW 3172 Post Commanders Organization Post 3172; Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 859; was a annual member of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund; Missouri Sheriffs' Assoc.; Assoc. of Retired Persons (AARP); the National Committee to preserve Social Security and Medicare. Mr. Ratliff enjoyed reading, typing business and personal letters; gardening; learning to be proficient with personal computer; spending time with his family; fishing; watching movies at home; and camping.

On Oct. 28, 1983 he married Ruby Nichols, in Fremont, Mo. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons; Charles Jones, of Ellsinore, Mo. and Michael Kirkley, of Fayette, Mo.; and four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m. Friday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service and burial with full military honors will be announced at a later date