Douthat, Lena Faye Ratcliffe

Lena Faye Ratcliffe Douthat, 87, of Pulaski, Va., departed this life and went to be with her Lord and loved ones on Sunday, May 18, 2008, at her home.

Born March 3, 1921, in Pearisburg, Va. (Bluff City), she was the daughter of the late John Allen Ratcliffe and Mary Ellen Fletcher Ratcliffe. Faye was one of eight children and seven have preceded her passing, Clarence Ratcliffe, Clanie Dennis, Lewis Ratcliffe, Russell Ratcliffe, Fred Ratcliffe; and two infants, Claude and Annabelle.

She was the wife of the late Thomas Alexander Douthat Sr. She helped Tom operate a dry cleaners during World War II and following the war, a family farm. She retired from Wades Supermarket in Dublin in 1984 after 22 years of service. A member of the Shiloh Christian Church for over 50 years, Faye’s dedication and service to the music ministry of the church will long be remembered.

A loving, devoted mother, she is survived by six children, Maria Elena Douthat Flinchum and her late husband, Wally Flinchum, of Draper, Va., Sandra Lee Douthat Denny and husband, Charlie Denny, of Salem, Va., Rebecca Arlene Douthat, of Dublin, Va., Sybil Gaye Douthat and husband, Bill Phelps, of Christiansburg, Va., Thomas Alexander Douthat Jr., of Pulaski, and Twila Faye Douthat Patton and husband, Mark Patton, of Radford, Va.; eight grandchildren, Mitzi Marie Smith, Joe Davis Jr., Charles Denny Jr., Ben Davis, Alex Douthat, Allen Patton, Jessica Douthat, and John Patton; six great-grandchildren. Will Griggs, Reed Griggs, Rhea Claire Griggs, Annie Turner, Ryan Krupnik and Matthew David Denny; sisters-in-law, “Tootsie” Ratcliffe, Opal Ratcliffe and Scarlett Ratcliffe; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at the Bower Funeral Chapel, Pulaski, with the Rev. Gary Rorrer officiating. Interment will follow at the Shiloh Christian Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, May 20, 2008, at the Bower Funeral Chapel, Pulaski. For memorial contributions, consider Shiloh Christian Church, the Alzheimer’s Foundation or any charity of your choice. Bower Funeral Chapel, Pulaski is handling the arrangements.