RATCLIFF, Dale Wilkey - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Sept. 24, 1916-Nov. 6, 2012

Dale W. Ratcliff, 96, of Veedersburg, died 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at Whitlock House, Crawfordsville. He was born Sept. 24, 1916, in Veedersburg, to Charles H. and Bertha (Wilkey) Ratcliff. Dale first married Elinor Lee Myers on Sept. 3, 1936, they were blessed with one son, Ted Ratcliff. He later married Maxine Brewer Blackford on Aug. 11, 1957, both wives preceded him in death. Survivors include: son Ted E. (Betty) Ratcliff, Crawfordsville; grandchildren, Lori (Jeffrey) Abney, Goshen, and Brett E. Ratcliff and DeDe (Mitchell) Groves, both of Crawfordsville; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Dale’s memberships include Sterling Christian Church, Masonic Lodge #314 of Kingman, honorary member of Veedersburg Lodge #491 and Covington Lodge #60, York Rite of Lafayette, Scottish Rite Valley of Terre Haute, Murat Shrine of Indianapolis, Troy Chapter #145 O.E.S. of Covington, Fountain-Warren Scottish Rite Club, Western Indiana Shrine Club, former member of Crawfordsville Elks #483 Also, past president of Indiana Society of Public Accountants, past president of Western Indiana Chapter Indiana Society of Public Accountants, past president of Veedersburg Lions Club, past Deputy Governor District Lions of Indiana and Past Worthy Patron of Vatetta Chapter O.E.S. In 1955 Dale started working in a public accounting office, and passed examinations and earned the status of licensed public accountant. He then earned an United States Treasury Card, entitling him to practice before the United States Tax Courts. He followed this profession until he retired in 1986. For 13 years of that time, he operated his own public accounting firm. At the death of his father in 1944 he returned to the family farm near Kingman, which he operated until 1955. During this time, he was a partner in the Kingman Flying Service. This business operated a first class private airport and service facility, and a federal government approved school, training students to become pilots. This successful operation was physically destroyed by a windstorm in 1948. Prior to and during the early days of World War II, he was a machine operator for Alcoa Aluminum Co. of America in Lafayette. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at Dickerson Funeral Home, Veedersburg, with Rev. Gary Johnson officiating. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at the funeral home with Masonic Service beginning at 7:45 p.m. Burial will be at Kingman Fraternal Cemetery near Kingman. Memorials may be given to Sterling Christian Church or Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children.Online condolences at www.dickersonfuneralhome.com: A Continual thank you to the Crawfordsville Journal Review for giving permission to post their obituaries