RATCLIFF, Bertha Wilkey - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Kingman, Ind July 1-- Mrs. Bertha W. RATCLIFF, 57, died at her home here at 7 o'clock Thursday evening. Death was due to complications. Mrs. Ratcliff was born Aug 13, 1874 in Parke County, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Wilkey. She spent most of her life in the vicinity of Kingman. She was a member of the Rush Creek Church and Daughters of Union Veterans. She is survived by her husband, CH Ratcliff, a son, Dale, living at home; a sister, Mrs. Charles Pearson of Bloomingdale and several half-brothers and sisters. Services will be held at 2 Sunday afternoon at the Kingman Methodist Church with the Rev. WA Crider in charge, assisted by rev. CL Clark. The place of burial has not been announced.

Bertha Alda Wilkey, second daughter of William H. and Martha Towell Wilkey, was born August 13 1874, two miles south of Kingman on the farm where Morton Wilkey and his family now reside; the farm where her grandfather and grandmother, Willis and Mary Lindley Wilkey lived during their lifetime; she bade adieu to earth and earthly things just as the sun was sinking in the western horizon, June 30 1932. As a child Bertha was a bright, sprightly lively little girl of a tender, loving disposition. At the arly age of eight years she was deprived of her noble mother by death and she and her older sister, Rose, bravely took up the home duties which their dear mother had laid down and did all they could to assist and cheer their bereaved father. She attended the public school of the neighborhood and was a diligent, industrious pupil, making ood advancement in her studies. After Rose and Gertrude were married, Bertha remained in the home always cheerfully rendering efficient service. When her sister Gertrude Spencer realized her life was slipping away, she gave into Bertha's care her little daughter, Geraldine, five years old, and her infant son, Worth Wilkey. Faithfully and lovingly she cared for them as tenderly as a mother could. Little Worth only lived a short time and then went to join his angel mother in the bright beyond. Bertha then bestowed on Geraldine a double portion of love and was ever afterwards a devoted mother to her. On October 24 1911, she was united in marriage with Charles H. Ratcliff and for more than twenty years, happily and lovingly walked the pathway of life together. To this union two children were born, Wilma Gertrude, who passed away in infancy, and Dale Wilkey, on whom she lavished a fond mother's love. As one who knew her best remarked, "Her whole life was bound up in Dale and there seemed to be no happier period in her life than when he was first able to lisp the little prayer she taught him as he knelt at her knee, which was never omitted, neither was the goodnight kiss." Bertha was a home loving woman, an efficient worker, very painstaking in everything she undertook; her home was a place where neatness and orderliness were always found. She was a great lover of flowers and spent many happy hours with them in the house and around the yard, thus making their home a beautiful spot which delighted the eye of all who beheld it. She was a member of the Friends church; converted in childhood; a firm believer in the efficacy of prayer. She greatly enjoyhed the work of the Bible school, was a favorite teacher among the children, taking much pleasure in training them in their exercises for children's day and at other times when they gave entertainments. She was a member of Erwin W.R.C. of Tangier, and also of the Daughters of Veterans at Kingman, in which she held an office of honor, and of the Order of Eastern Star, Valetta Chapter No. 207, at Veedersburg. She was altogether unselfish, thoughtful and kind, never speaking a cross word in the familyh or elsewhere. To sum it up in a few words, she was a noble Christian woman. The husband has lost a devoted companion, the son and adopted daughter a fond mother. She also leaves a host of relatives and friends who deeply mourn their loss.