Ratliff, Jean Tilley

Jean Tilley Ratliff, 83 of Pearisburg, Va., went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center in Christiansburg, Va. Mrs. Ratliff was born on July 10, 1935 in Pembroke, Va. and was a daughter of the late William Franklin Tilley Sr. and Helen Leota Lamar Tilley. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Watson Ratliff; one sister, Anna T. Mills and two brothers, William Franklin Tilley Jr. and Thomas (Tommy) Tilley.

Jean was a graduate of the Pembroke High School Corncutters, was a retired employee of Virginia Tech, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science with over 30 years of service working with Dr. J. Stypes who she considered a great boss, and her friend Patsy Neice. Jean also loved the company of her family.

She is survived by her brother, Gerald Lee Tilley (Mary) of Kansas City, Mo.; sister, Lillian T. Gallimore (Mac) of Narrows; caregivers, Kathy Blankenship, Lillian Gallimore, Randy and Kim Tilley, Jerry Riley and Amy and numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the Riffe-Givens Funeral Chapel in Narrows. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour before the service. The family is being served by Riffe – Givens Funeral Service in Narrows, (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.