Jean Baldwin Ratliff, 78, of Christiansburg, VA, passed away on January 7, 2012.
She was born in Squire, WV, to Lloyd Leo Baldwin and Lola Martin Baldwin Rowe. Jean was raised in the community of Drill in Russell County, VA. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Garcel. Garcel and Jean raised their family in Oakwood, VA, in Buchanan County.
She is survived by four children: Carol Blankenship (Don) of Wilmington, NC; Gayle Osborne (John) of Charleston, SC; Gary Ratliff of Richlands, VA; and Dana Jean Ratliff of Verona, VA; and a sister, Evelyn Keene (Walden) of N. Tazewell, VA. Six grandchildren: Stacey Blankenship Fritz (Steffan) of Stuttgart, Germany; Garrett Blankenship of Wilmington, NC; John Garcel Osborne (Katie) of Mount Pleasant, SC; Britton Osborne Smith (Jason) of Richmond, VA; Gary Garcel Ratliff, Jr. (Amy) of Richmond, VA; and Elena Ratliff Barlow (Chad) of N. Tazewell, VA. Six great-grandchildren: Anne Presley Osborne, Gavin Fritz, Elle Ratliff, Parker and Chase Smith and Holden Barlow.
The family would like to acknowledge her faithful friends, Joyce Brown and Patricia Weber.
Jean worked as a Resident Director at Radford University from 1974-1993. In 1993 she retired and moved to Christiansburg. Jean was a member of Cambria Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 12, 2012, from 6-8 P.M. at the Horne Funeral Home in Christiansburg. The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 13, 2012, at 10 A.M. at the Horne Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Olen Gardner officiating. There will be a short graveside service at 2 P.M. at Greenhills Memorial Gardens, Claypool Hill, VA, led by Ancil Childress.