Robert Ratchford

He was born on December 24, 1947 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. He had one brother, James Edward Jr. and one sister, Martha Jane. Due to his father's profession as a Presbyterian minister, the family moved quite a bit. From Big Stone Gap, Bob lived in Madison, NC, 2 areas of Charlotte, Erwin Avenue and Lilac Rd. and Mocksville, NC where he graduated from Davie County High School in 1966. Mocksville is where he got his start in radio, recording PSAs. He attended St Andrews college where he worked for the campus radio station. Over the next 50+ years he worked in a number of radio genres, rock, country and finally Christian. He began working at Crawford Broadcasting station WDJC in Birmingham, AL in January 1988 and retired in February 2022. In December 2016, he moved to Charlotte to "family" property to build a retirement home.

Bob is survived by his wife of 36 years, Joan, a daughter, Amanda Long (Charles), a son Patrick (Brooke) and three grandchildren, EJ, Claire, and Harper.

McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.