Gregory Odell Ratchford

Gregory Odell Ratchford Sr. was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 28, 1948, to parents Muriel and Odell Ratchford. Greg had five siblings, and he was the third born child.



Growing up, Greg attended Cleveland Public Schools, first in the Miles Heights and Glenville neighborhoods, eventually graduating from East Tech High School. While in high school, he ran track and worked at Fisher Foods grocery store. He had a very strong work ethic which continued throughout his employment career. He never missed work, and was always timely --- took his work seriously. He enjoyed fine cars, bowling, fishing and golfing.



When Greg graduated from high school, he was hired at Gould Ocean Systems, where he started, as they say, at the ground floor level. Later he would gain and perfect machining skills at Gould-and later at Westinghouse, and finally at Cleveland Gear, but first he had to address the Vietnam War. He enlisted in the United States Army on September 29, 1967. Earlier that year Greg also met his future wife, Deborah Gill in February. During his three years of service in the army Greg defended our nation in Vietnam for eighteen months, during this time Deborah was in college studying to be a teacher. While in college Deborah wrote Greg regularly while he was overseas, and she even once baked a cake and sent it to him in Vietnam! In 1971, Greg took Deborah, her parents and his mother Muriel to the Kontiki restaurant in downtown Cleveland where the future Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Ratchford announced their engagement. Married in 1973, Deborah and Greg were blessed to have two wonderful children - boys - Gregory Ratchford Jr. and Windom G. Ratchford.



On Monday, August 31, 2020, after 47 loving years of marriage, Greg Sr. transitioned from this place to his heavenly home, leaving a wound that only God can heal. He is, and always will be sorely missed by family and friends.



Preceding Greg in transition are his parents, Muriel and Odell Ratchford, sisters Alberta Hughes, Phyllis Ratchford, brother Kenneth Ratchford, son, Gregory Ratchford Jr.,



Family left to cherish Greg’s memory are his wife Deborah Ratchford, son Windom Ratchford, siblings – sister Brenda Mayo, brother Ronnie Ratchford, grandson Noah Ratchford, nieces Evelyn Bell (Albert), Tamara Baranyai (Gabor), nephews Edward/Butch Mayo (Cindy), Tre and Justin Bell, and a host of in-laws, extended family and friends.

 

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