It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of John "Freddie" Ratliff on July 2, 2024 in Grand Prairie, TX. Born on January 26, 1954, John was a beacon of wit, compassion, and kindness, well-respected and dearly loved by all who knew him.
John leaves behind his loving wife of over 40 years, Monica Ratliff; his devoted sons, John William Ratliff (Candi) and Taylor Houston Ratliff; his cherished daughter, Samantha Lunette Ratliff; his dear brother, Garvon Townsend Ratliff(Julia); his mother-in-law, Mary Lou Gartrell; his favorite uncle, Clyde Townsend; and his Aunt, Lois Gurley and many more family members, friends and fur babies. He joins in eternal rest his father, John Albert Ratliff; his mother, Joyce Nell Townsend Dittmar; his step-father, John Andrew Dittmar; his sisters, Sheryl Dawn Salinas and Belinda Sue Christen.
He spent his formative years in Rockport, San Antonio and Dallas, then returning to Rockport after his father passed away. John completed his high school education at Rockton Fulton High School in 1972 before furthering his studies at Control Data, graduating in 1973. He served in the United States Air Force, as a Sergeant in communications/ground radio, honorably, from 1975 to 1979 and then as a citizen airman before settling into a successful career in document equipment solutions at Zero Systems, Oklahoma City, in 1980, where he met Monica. He furthered his studies in electronics and physics before he and Monica were transferred to open a new Zero location in Albuquerque where they married. In 1985, he was recruited by Sharp Electronics Corp. as a Senior Document Solutions Specialist and then a Manager over the Dallas refurb operation in 2016 until 2020, when he retired from Sharp. He made lifelong friends everywhere he was and gained respect from all that he worked with and met.
John was a passionate volunteer at SGPHS Warrior Band, Boy Scouts of America along with the SGPHS Robotics Team. He was involved in all his children's activities, schools and interests.
John was a big fan of Breaking Bad, all sci-fi movies, and Saturday Night Live. He enjoyed numerous viewings of Back to the Future and Flight of the Phoenix too. John could not miss a game of the Dallas Cowboys and made sure he had lucky cowboys shirts and queso available for every game he attended or watched. His interests included space, gardening, camping, fishing, cooking for a crowd and cherished his time with family in Rockport on vacations, weekends and any time off he could get. He was a caretaker for many and always had an open door for those who needed his help.
He was fond of reading, creating new or revised recipes and researching Fenn's treasure. John was the main chef in his house, as was his father, with the most requested delectable being his shrimp gumbo. His personality could best be described as witty, compassionate, mentoring, and kind. He believed in doing your best at what you love and considered his greatest accomplishments being his three children and his love for them. John could take any subject and turn it into a jingle or humorous story. John will be remembered for his legacy of kindness, humor, and generosity. He will be dearly missed and forever loved by his family, coworkers, customers and all those who had the privilege to meet him.
A celebration of life for John will take place on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Grand Prairie Funeral Home Chapel located at 733 Dalworth St, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.
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