Elsie Ratzlaff

A memorial service for Elsie Ratzlaff, 92, of Corn, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Calvary Baptist Church in Corn.

She died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016.

Mrs. Ratzlaff was born Oct. 7, 1923, the eldest of five children to W.P. and Matilda Kliewer. She was a lifetime resident of Corn and graduated from Corn Bible Academy. She later worked as an operator at the Corn Phone Exchange, and for a short while at the Washita County Enterprise.

Following WWII she married Herb Ratzlaff in 1947. They made their home one mile south and one-half mile east of Corn on the Ratzlaff family homestead, where they raised their five children.

Ratzlaff was a charter member of the Calvary Baptist Church, and remained a faithful member as long as her health permitted. She taught Sunday school class, worked on the Kitchen Committee and was active in the Women’s Ministry Fellowship, serving as treasurer for many years. She was also a charter member of the Corn American Legion Auxiliary, leading it as president for a number of years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, Jacob Earl.

Survivors include her children, Flo Richardson and husband Jim, of Corn, Frances Wood, of Anchorage, Alaska, Marlene Thompson and husband Shelby, of Edmond, Percy and wife Connie, of Piedmont, and Dr.

Michale Ratzlaff, of Anchorage, Alaska; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; three brothers, John, Roy and Allen; one sister, Mildred Wichert; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Services will be officiated by Rev. Bob Burkle, under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made in Mrs. Ratzlaff’s name to Calvary Baptist Church in Corn. The family plans a private memorial at a later date.