Gilbert Alonzo Ratcliff, Jr.'s Obituary
Dr. Gilbert Alonzo Ratcliff, Jr., age 85, of Proctorville, Ohio, passed away November 11, 2023, at home surrounded by family. Gil was beloved by his family, friends, colleagues, and his patients and their families. He was often stopped by his patients who shared the impact of his care on their lives and families. Gil is preceded in death by his wife, Betsy White Ratcliff, and his parents, Dr. Gilbert Alonzo Ratcliff, Sr., and Jessie Vaughan Ratcliff, both of Huntington, West Virginia. Gil graduated from Huntington High School, Princeton University, and Johns Hopkins Medical School. He completed his internship and residency at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966. He then served as a Captain in the US Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky from 1966-1968. After his army service, Gil returned home to Huntington to work as a pediatric physician in solo practice and eventually joined Pediatrics, Inc. He finished his career at University Pediatrics and as a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Joan C Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. As a member of the medical staff at Cabell Huntington Hospital, Gil co-founded the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit which was one of his proudest professional accomplishments. At Cabell Huntington Hospital, Gil served on the Bio Ethics Committee and participated on the Institutional Review Board. He was also involved with many other professional and community organizations.Gil had a lifetime love of learning and mentoring others both professionally and personally. His family affectionately called him the human dictionary as he could easily recall the etymology and definition of words. He always enjoyed studying a new subject or a new language and would often use his knowledge in his travels. Gil had the ability to strike up a conversation with almost anyone and learn about their lives, families, and careers. Gil had a trademark sense of humor, often self-deprecating.Gil had numerous hobbies that he enjoyed, such as gardening, care of the animals on the farm, and Marshall football. Gil was a member of the Huntington Rose Society and Cabell-Wayne Beekeepers Association. Gil was a lifelong member of Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church where he was active in his Sunday School class and other church ministries.Gil is survived by his three daughters, Lenore Ratcliff Tweel (Robert) of Charleston, West Virginia, Leah Ratcliff Horton (Tre) of Roswell, Georgia, and Lynn Ratcliff Sedki (Alec) of Atlanta, Georgia; six grandchildren, Kathryn Tweel, Emily Tweel, William Horton, Andrew Horton, Mary Caroline Sedki and Carter Sedki; and his brother, Bruce (Ann) Ratcliff of Huntington. The Ratcliff family expresses their gratitude to Gil's caregiver and friend, Becky Dingess, for her compassionate care, and to the staff and caregivers of Home Care of Barboursville.Visitation will be Thursday, December 28, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, Ohio. Funeral services will be held December 29, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, Huntington. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made through donations to Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, 513 Tenth St., Huntington, WV, 25701 or the Marshall University Foundation, in memory of Dr Gilbert A Ratcliff, Jr., 519 John Marshall Dr., Huntington, WV 25703.Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ehallfuneralhome.com.
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